New Zealand National Anthem English Translation
“God Defend New Zealand” was written by Thomas Bracken in 1870, and composed by John Joseph Woods as a result of a newspaper contest in 1876. Got popular in the first half of the 20th century, it was adopted as New Zealand’s national song in 1940 (New Zealand’s centennial year), and co-national anthem in Nov 21, 1977.
O Lord, God,
Of all people
Listen to us,
Cherish us
May good flourish,
May your blessings flow
Defend Aotearoa
Let all people,
Red skin, white skin
Māori, Pākehā
Gather before you
May all our wrongs, we pray,
Be forgiven
So that we might say long live
Aotearoa
May it be forever prestigious,
May it go from strength to strength,
May its fam spread far and wide,
Let not strife
Nor dissention ensue,
May it ever be great
Aotearoa
Let its territory
Be ever enlightened
Throughout the land
Let envy and dissension
Be dispelled,
Let peace reign
Over Aotearoa
Let its good features endure,
Let righteousness and honesty
Prevail
Among the people of God
Let it never be ashamed,
But rather, let its name be known
Thereby becoming the model to emulate
Aotearoa