N.Z. National Anthem
Dennis Marsh Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

E Ihowa Atua
O ngā iwi mātou rā,
āta whakarongo na;
Me aroha noa.
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa.

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.

Overall Meaning

The song "N.Z. National Anthem" by Dennis Marsh is a beautiful prayer to God, asking for his blessings and protection for the people of New Zealand. The first verse starts with the invocation of the divinity, as the people of New Zealand express their faith in God and ask for his guidance. The verse also speaks about the sense of unity among the diverse communities of the country, who have come together in the spirit of love and harmony. The people of New Zealand humbly request God to show them kindness and mercy so that the country may prosper with his blessings. The second verse continues the prayer with a plea to God to protect the country from war and strife. The triple star or the Southern Cross is a symbol of the country and the people pray that it remains safe from the threats of violence and conflict. The verse ends with an appeal to make the glory of New Zealand known throughout the world so that people may acknowledge and appreciate its unique beauty and richness.


Line by Line Meaning

E Ihowa Atua
Oh God Almighty


O ngā iwi mātou rā,
We, the people of New Zealand are gathered here today,


āta whakarongo na;
Please listen to us attentively;


Me aroha noa.
We come with love and compassion.


Kia hua ko te pai;
Let goodness flourish;


Kia tau tō atawhai;
Let peace reign;


Manaakitia mai
Bless us,


Aotearoa.
New Zealand.


Guard Pacific's triple star
Protect the Southern Cross shining in the Pacific sky,


From the shafts of strife and war,
Save us from the weapons of conflict and war,


Make her praises heard afar,
Help New Zealand be recognized around the world,


God defend New Zealand.
God please defend New Zealand.




Contributed by Alaina W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found