N.Z. anthem sprang from unheralded poem put to music

Press, 26 July 1989, Page 18

N.Z. anthem sprang from unheralded poem put to music

By

ROY SINCLAIR

Fifty years ago the New Zealand Centennial Council adopted an almost unknown poem and recommended it to the Government as the Dominion’s national anthem. The poem, “New Zealand Hymn,” had been written in the early 1870 s by Thomas Bracken, of Dunedin.

The poem was also known as “God Defend New Zealand” after it was put to music by John Woods in 1875. But until radio and community singing became popular in the 1930 s "God Defend New Zealand” was rarely heard by New Zealanders. In 1939 New Zealand was in need of a national anthem. The centennial celebrations were approaching, but New Zealand was also about to become involved in the Second World War. Bracken’s hymn seemed appropriate for a New Zealand anthem, but the Centennial Council was confronted by a barrage of criticism from r’people who questioned Bracken’s ability as a poet. Even today one might ask, "Who was Thomas Bracken and how did his almost obscure poem gain such national importance?” Last century, Bracken was New Zealand’s most prolific writer of verse. He was probably the first writer who attempted to give New Zealand a national identity and was one of the first New Zealanders to promote women’s rights. Bracken was born in Ireland to Protestant parents in 1843. Soon after his birth his mother died, and when he was nine he lost his father. At the age of 13 he was sent to Australia to live with an uncle in Victoria. While coping with the uncertainty and hardship of early colonial Australia, he discovered his dormant spirit of poetry and whimsical humour. He started writing while working on the Bendigo goldfields, but his early efforts met with little success. In fact, Bracken became a bit of a joke.

A highly sensitive man, he soon discovered that life could be harsh and cruel, and during his late teen-age years he gained a deep insight into human nature. And he persevered with his writing — several pieces Were eventually published in

various Australian journals. Hearing of the fortunes being made on the Otago goldfields in the 1860 s, he sailed to Dunedin. His artistic temperament was inspired by the velvet-green hills surrounding Otago Harbour and the snow-capped peaks in the

distance. He wrote “Dunedin from the Bay,” one of his bestknown poems. .£ Bracken was happy to make his home in Dunedin. He became a successful journalist and, in partnership with the Honourable John Bathgate, he edited and published the “Saturday Advertiser.” He became involved in politics mainly out of sympathy fork the underdog. In 1881 he was elected member for Dunedin Central in the House of Representatives. Among his political partners were Sir George Grey and Sir Robert Stout. The three men considered there was a need for a Liberal Party and they grappled with the problem of “expelling Old World serpents from New World gardens.” But Bracken made a name for himself as a poet rather than a politician. Early collections of his poems were published in Australia. While visiting Australia he felt his greatest affinity for . his adopted country of New Zealand. In Melbourne he once met another “Maorilander” in Collins Street, and asked, “Well, how do you like Australia?” The other replied, “Oh, its a wonderful place and I am doing very well here, but I would much sooner live on a far smaller salary in ‘God’s Own Country.’ ”

That chance Collins Street meeting inspired Bracken to write “God’s Own Country,” one of a number of poems written to promote New Zealand nationalism. While editor of the "Saturday Advertiser,” Bracken published a number of his poems under the nom-de-plume, Paddy Murphy. When his “New Zealand Hymn” was published in 1875, the paper held a competition for a musical setting for the words. A substantial prize of 10 guineas was offered to attract the best talent in the colony. Three leading Australian musi-

cians from Victoria were appointed adjudicators and each was to act independently in making the award. A young schoolteacher and musician, John Woods, -who, like Bracken, had come to New Zealand from Australia, was living in the Otago town of Lawrence. Woods read about the competition and decided to submit an entry.

Although it was late in the evening, he sat down at his piano and did not rise till the score of “God Defend New Zealand” was complete. The Australian judges were subsequently unanimous in selecting Mr Woods’, entry as the winner. Bracken was delighted with the musical score and he assigned all his rights in “God Defend New Zealand” to Woods. These rights were later acquired by Messrs Chas. Begg and Company. Then, during the centennial year, they were taken over by the Government. “God Defend New Zealand” was also given a Maori musical setting by R. A. (Bob) Horne, a well-known Christchurch musician of the 19205. The Maori setting was popular , at the Boy Scouts’ 1929 Jamboree in England. Although “God Defend New Zealand” , was recommended as the national anthem in 1939, its official title was “New'Zealand’s

National Hymn” until 1977 when given equal status with the official national anthem, “God

Save the Queen.” The anthem under its original title, “New Zealand Hymn,” was included in a large collection of Bracken’s poems, “Musing in Maoriland,” published in 1890. This collection was dedicated to Alfred Lord Tennyson. Although Bracken was born a Protestant, he continually felt drawn to the religion of most Irishmen. In 1874 ,he helped canvass for shares when “The Tablet” was founded, and, in 1896, he formally joined the Catholic Church.

By this time his health was failing. Two years later, on February 16, 1898, he died in Dunedin Hospital. He was survived by his wife and son. Bracken’s poems continued to be popular after the turn of the century, but by the 1920 s they were almost forgotten. The few critics of his work since the 1920 s have been less than kind, describing Bracken’s poems as a crude attempt at nationialism and, even, an embarrassment. Such criticism could be considered unfair especially when one

considers the times in which Bracken lived. He was an unrepentant idealist who was frequently deeply affected by defeat. many of his poems, including one of his finest, “Not Understood,” reflect an inner anguish. In. different circumstances, Bracken might have been compared favourably with literary names of international fame. At least his “God Defend New Zealand” has become the preferred New Zealand national anthem and it is unlikely to be replaced by anything more appropriate.