天佑新西兰 God Defend New Zealand
一、简介天佑新西兰与天佑吾王God Save the Queen都是新西兰的国歌，地位等同。不过，现时无论是学校周会还是国家代表队出外比赛，一般都只会用“天佑新西兰”这一首歌；与此同时，新西兰民众一般都不同意国家有两首地位等同的国歌。
有关新西兰国歌的应用，由新西兰文化及传统部负责管理。
二、历史“天佑新西兰”的歌词本来是一首诗，于1870年代由Thomas Bracken所创作。1876年，有人为了替这首诗谱上音乐而举办了一次比赛，获胜者可以得到十个Guineas(英国的旧金币)。结果这次比赛由John Joseph Woods胜出。据闻他就在发现比赛通告的当晚就写好这首乐曲。
在19世纪到20世纪初期，这首歌的受欢迎程度一直有增无减。1940年，新西兰政府正式购入这首歌的版权，并在建国100周年时宣布订定这首歌为国咏。1976年，国会提出动议，要求订立这首歌为国歌。在取得英女王伊莉沙白二世的情况下，本歌正式于1977年11月21日成为新西兰的第二首国歌。
1978年6月1日，内政部宣布他们为这首国歌重新编曲，以使之更适合大众演唱，并请了当时的名歌声Maxwell Fernie演唱这首新歌。
自1950年的大英帝国运动会起,新西兰就把它当成国歌。在1972年慕尼黑奥运当中,第一次在奥运时使用“天佑新西兰”来当成新西兰的国歌。
三、英语歌词“天佑新西兰”总共有五段歌词。原文只有英语版本，但后来当原住民的利益重新得到确认，开始出现了毛利语版本的歌词。一般来说，我们日常生活只会采用歌词的第一段。而根据新西兰的习惯，唱国歌之时会先唱毛利语版本，然后才唱英语版本。在非常罕见的情况下，英语歌词的第二段亦会唱。
英语歌词
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.
Men of ev'ry 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.
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.
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.
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.
Copyright on the English lyrics for God Defend New Zealand expired in 1948, fifty years after the death of the author.
There is some discussion, with no official explanation, of the meaning of "Pacific's triple star".
四、毛利语歌词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
Ōna mano tāngata
Kiri whero, kiri mā,
Iwi Māori Pākehā,
Rūpeke katoa,
Nei ka tono ko ngā hē
Māu e whakaahu kē,
Kia ora mārire
Aotearoa
Tōna mana kia tū!
Tōna kaha kia ū;
Tōna rongo hei pakū
Ki te ao katoa
Aua rawa ngā whawhai
Ngā tutū a tata mai;
Kia tupu nui ai
Aotearoa
Waiho tona takiwā
Ko te ao mārama;
Kia whiti tōna rā
Taiāwhio noa.
Ko te hae me te ngangau
Meinga kia kore kau;
Waiho i te rongo mau
Aotearoa
Tōna pai me toitū
Tika rawa, pono pū;
Tōna noho, tana tū;
Iwi nō Ihowā.
Kaua mōna whakamā;
Kia hau te ingoa;
Kia tū hei tauira;
Aotearoa
At least two Māori versions have been made. The first by Thomas H. Smith of Auckland, a judge in the Native Land Court, on request of governor George Edward Grey in 1878, and the second by former Māori Language Commissioner, Professor Timoti S. Käretu, commissioned in 1979.
This latter translation (above) is under New Zealand Crown copyright until 2079.
