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Kōrero: National anthems

Thomas Bracken: handwritten manuscript

When Premier George Grey heard 'God defend New Zealand' performed for the first time, he was so moved that he wrote to Thomas Bracken, asking for the original manuscript of the poem. This handwritten copy of the words, sent by Bracken to Grey in 1878, is held in the Grey collection at Auckland City Libraries.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau, Sir George Grey Special Collections

Reference: GNZMS 6

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Nancy Swarbrick, National anthems – History of ‘God defend New Zealand’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/zoomify/33762/thomas-bracken-handwritten-manuscript (accessed 25 June 2026).

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