E Ihowa Atua - Waiata

E IHOWA ATUA Kaupapa - Context This is the Reo Maori verse of New Zealand's national anthem, "God Defend New Zealand". Note that these words are not a close translation of Bracken's 1875 lyrics. John Joseph Woods wrote the Music score and T. H. Smith composed in 1878 the Maori the lyrics.

E Ihowa Atua,
O nga iwi matou ra, Ata whakarongona; Me aroha noa.

Kia hua ko te pai,
Kia tau to atawhai,
Manaakiti mai

Aotearoa.

God of nations at thy feet

In the bonds of love we

meet. Hear our voices,

we entreat,

God defend our free land.

Guard Pacific's triple star

From the shafts of strife
and war,

Make her praises heard afar,

God defend New Zealand

Watch, Read, Listen, Learn Nga kupu purereta Download printable song sheet (pdf) Whakarongo ki waiata Listen to song (mp3) Whakarongo ki te mita Listen to song pronunciation (mp3) Matakitaki i nga kaiwaiata Watch song performed (wmv)

An EON Foundation initiative sponsored by FLinNZ 2007