Story: National anthems

The All Blacks and the anthem

The All Blacks and the anthem

The first verse of 'God defend New Zealand' is sung before rugby test matches, and people often complain that the All Blacks appear not to be singing along with it.  This 1994 cartoon hints at some possible reasons.

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Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: A-317-067
Cartoon by Bob Brockie

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Nancy Swarbrick, 'National anthems - Analysing the anthems', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/cartoon/33773/the-all-blacks-and-the-anthem (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 20 Jun 2012