Honestly, most of us only know the first verse. We stand up at the rugby, mumble through the Māori part if we aren't fluent, and then belt out the English lines about the "triple star" without having a clue what a triple star actually is. It’s kinda funny when you think about it. We’ve been singing God Defend New Zealand for decades, yet the full story behind those lyrics is weirder and more controversial than your standard primary school assembly lets on.
The Irishman who started it all
The lyrics weren't even written by a Kiwi—well, not a born one. Thomas Bracken was an Irish immigrant who landed in Dunedin in 1869. He was a poet, a journalist, and a bit of a political firebrand. He wrote the poem in the 1870s and published it in his own newspaper, the Saturday Advertiser.
Bracken wasn't just some guy writing a catchy tune; he was deeply involved in the issues of his time. He was actually one of the few politicians back then who stood up in Parliament and criticized the government's treatment of Māori at Parihaka. That's a detail that gets buried. People think the anthem is just a dusty old Victorian prayer, but it was written by a man who was pretty radical for his era.
God Defend NZ Lyrics: The full English version
Most people don't realize there are actually five verses. We usually stop after the first one because, let’s be real, the game is about to start and nobody has time for a ten-minute operatic session. But the later verses get intense. They talk about "dissension, envy, hate" and "corruption." It’s basically a checklist of things we still complain about today.
Verse 1
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our free land.
Guard Pacific’s triple star
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend New Zealand.
Verse 2
Men of every creed and race,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our free land.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend New Zealand.
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Verse 3
Peace, not war, shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our coast,
Make us then a mighty host,
God defend our free land.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend New Zealand.
Verse 4
Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our free land.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our country’s spotless name,
Crown her with immortal fame,
God defend New Zealand.
Verse 5
May our mountains ever be
Freedom’s ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our free land.
Guide her in the nations’ van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend New Zealand.
What is the "Triple Star" anyway?
This is the part that trips everyone up. If you ask ten New Zealanders what the "triple star" means, you'll get ten different answers. Some people think it's the three main islands: North, South, and Stewart Island. That sounds logical, right?
But historians aren't so sure. Others reckon it might refer to the three stars on the flag of Te Kooti, or perhaps it’s a more literal celestial reference. There’s no smoking gun in Bracken’s diary that says, "Hey, I meant the islands." It’s one of those bits of the god defend nz lyrics that has just become a mystery we all agree to ignore while we sing.
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The Māori translation isn't a translation
Here is something most people forget: the Māori version, Aotearoa, isn't a word-for-word copy of the English. It was written by Thomas Henry Smith in 1878 at the request of Premier George Grey.
E Ihowā Atua
E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarongona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa.
If you translate that back into English, it’s much more about "flowering" and "abundance." It’s less about "guarding the state" and more about the people and the land flourishing together. It’s actually quite beautiful when you look at the nuances.
The awkward road to becoming "The Anthem"
For a long time, God Save the Queen (now King) was the only official anthem. God Defend New Zealand was just a "national hymn." It didn't officially get equal status until 1977.
The turning point was actually the 1972 Munich Olympics. When the New Zealand rowing eight won gold, the band played God Defend New Zealand instead of God Save the Queen. Technically, they weren't supposed to do that. It was against the rules. But the Kiwis there loved it. It felt like "ours." That moment of rebellion on the world stage is basically what forced the government's hand to make it official a few years later.
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Why it still causes a stir
Not everyone is a fan. Some people find the tune a bit "dirge-like" and hard to sing (it does have a weirdly wide range for casual singers). Others point out that for a secular country, we spend a lot of time asking a deity for help in our national song.
Then there was the 1999 Rugby World Cup. Hinewehi Mohi sang the anthem in Māori only, and people lost their minds. It sounds crazy now, because we do the bilingual version as standard, but back then it was a huge national scandal. It actually led to the tradition we have now where we do both. It’s funny how a "mistake" or a "scandal" often ends up becoming the new tradition.
Actionable insights for your next event
If you're actually trying to learn these for a ceremony or a game, don't just memorize the sounds. Understanding the meaning behind words like whakarongona (listen to us) makes it much easier to remember. Also, if you’re leading a crowd, remember that the "God of Nations" start is lower than you think. If you start too high, you'll be screaming by the time you get to the "Pacific's triple star" bit.
To really nail it:
- Practice the Māori vowels: They are consistent. A (ah), E (eh), I (ee), O (oh), U (oo).
- Watch the tempo: Most people rush the English version because they’re nervous. Slow it down.
- Learn Verse 2: If you really want to impress people, knowing the second verse about "every creed and race" shows you’ve actually done your homework.
The lyrics are a snapshot of 1870s hope, Irish rebellion, and a growing sense that this little group of islands at the bottom of the world needed its own voice. Whether you're religious or not, there's a certain weight to singing words that have survived over 150 years of debate.