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 City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, 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.
Tāpiritia te tākupu hou