“God Defend N.Z” Not National Anthem

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30442, 16 May 1964, Page 7

“God Defend N.Z” Not National Anthem

“God Defend New Zealand” has come to be regarded as New Zealand’s national song, but it is not a national anthem, and is not the Dominion’s national song by authority of Act of Parliament.

A correspondent, "Defender,” says in a letter to “The Press”: “There seems to be some misunderstanding about our New Zealand National Anthem and our anthem. To a very small percentage of us, we have had a very difficult task in trying to prove that ‘God Defend New Zealand’ is only an anthem, not a national anthem.”

A controversy arose in Wellington recently about the song when a correspondent wrote to the “Dominion" claiming it was New Zealand’s national song. According to an article In the “Dominion,” research by the Clerk of the House of Representatives (Mr H. N. Dolimore), the General Assembly and the Internal Affairs Department, failed to substantiate the claim. The article in the

“Dominion” said the nearest approach was an announcement by the then Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr W. E. Parry) on May 1, 1940, that the Government had purchased the copyright and performing, reproduction, and similar rights of the words and music of Thomas Bracken’s song. The copyright was held in Chas. Begg and Son, Dunedin. Mr Parry said the decision to purchase what had come to be regarded as New Zealand’s national song was made in order to remove any restrictions which might be imposed on its copyright and performing rights being in private ownership.

He also said the National Centennial Council had recommended to the Government that it would be a fitting and appropriate centennial year gesture to adopt the song as New Zealand’s national song. There is, however, no record of legislative action towards this end.

The copyright on the words has now expired but the Crown’s purchase of rights in 1940 means the song and music are freely available to anyone, providing the source is acknowledged.