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Kōrero: National anthems

The All Blacks and the anthem

Image
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.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: A-317-067

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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Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, National anthems – Analysing the anthems, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/cartoon/33773/the-all-blacks-and-the-anthem (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Nancy Swarbrick, i tāngia i te 2 April 2012.