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Kōrero: National anthems

John Woods: handwritten manuscript

As well as asking Thomas Bracken for a manuscript of the words of 'God defend New Zealand', Premier George Grey requested a copy of the music from its composer, John Woods. This manuscript in Woods's hand was possibly prepared in a hurry, because it contains an error in the third bar, where a C-natural appears instead of a D-flat.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

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

Reference: GNZMS 296

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/33766/john-woods-handwritten-manuscript (accessed 25 June 2026).

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