Talk:God Defend New Zealand

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So why don't some of you patriotic Kiwis add the lyrics? Presumably they're not copyright --Robert Merkel

As far as I know, copyright on the lyrics is held by the New Zealand government. I will try to contact someone to get the details. Incidentally, I wouldn't be surprised if some other countries' national anthems are covered by copyright, too. --Carey Evans

If it was written in 1876, copyright has already expired long time ago --Taw

The lyrics are available at http://www.cultureandheritage.govt.nz/anthem/index.htm . The copyright on the lyrics may have expired in the United States (as has everything else first published on or before December 31, 1922), but distributing things online requires worldwide rights, and governments outside the United States are not inhibited by the "limited times" clause of U.S. Const. 1.8.8 and can enact a perpetual copyright on a given work, such as what the UK government did to the Peter Pan cycle. Even then, don't count on anything else expiring in your lifetime.

Thanks - I couldn't have said it better myself. Should something like this go on a more general page on Wikipedia copyrights? --Carey Evans

However, the unaltered lyrics of a national anthem, even in their entirety, would almost certainly be fair use, wouldn't they? --Robert Merkel

I don't know about New Zealand, by the lyrics to Canada's national anthem are in the public domain. I always assumed that it was same worldwide, but someone should surely check it out. -- Stephen Gilbert

I got an email today (2001-10-10) from Haydee Wilton at the Ministy for Culture and Heritage, regarding the copyright. Copyright on the English lyrics expired in 1948. She hasn't found out anything about the Maori lyrics yet, though, so I'll have to be patient until the relevant documentation can be tracked down. --Carey Evans

More info from Ailsa Caid at MCH: the Maori lyrics are covered by Crown copyright, which doesn't expire until 2079. --Carey Evans

What does your anthem mean when it says "Guard Pacific's triple star"? As an Aussie I have no idea what this means. -- Grahame Gould (religiousnut@yahoo.com.au)

I don't know either, despite being a New Zealander. It might have something to do with the three colors on the flag (blue, red, and white.)

Sorry, haven't made an account yet, but I'm from NZ. I believe the anthem is referring to the three main islands of NZ with the "triple star" line. "Guard Pacific's triple star" specifically refers to the Pacific Ocean, and it would have to be referring to something physical to guard, rather than three colours I think. -- Mark.

http://www.rfcadet.org.nz/News/general/Flag%20Data.html - ah, don't worry. This answers it to the extent that my curiosity extended. And I'm now a member. -- Grahame

I'm confused - the Maori lyrics don't quite agree with http://www.mch.govt.nz/anthem/ - seems that some longer words have been broken into shorter ones. Is anyone that knows the language better than I able to reconcile the differences? Tenbaset 03:12, Jan 26, 2004 (UTC) If you need to email somone for copyright info, email the Ministry for Culture and Heritige at mailto:info@mch.govt.nz - User:Z.Spy

Contents 1 MIDI link was broken but ... 2 Maori lyrics 2.1 Copyright information from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage 3 How to sing the song? 4 Better not to sing the damn thing 5 God save the Queen???

[edit] MIDI link was broken but ...

I have replaced the MIDI Link that was there:

http://www.copsrus.com/anthems/newzeal.mid MIDI File

as it currently seems broken.

However I am not wildly happy about my replacement and if anyone finds one of better quality I suggest they use it. It's nice to have the sheet music but it's not a professional typeset of it (with the greatest of respect to the person who did it) and has a couple of (not too significant) errors. Nevilley 09:37, 2 Mar 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Maori lyrics

According to the edit history of the article, I removed the Maori lyrics. Looking at the edit I do not think it was my work at all and I would not have intentionally removed them; I think the history is messed up. Apologies for any confusion, and I am glad to see the article put right again. Nevilley 18:38, 20 Apr 2004 (UTC)

[edit] Copyright information from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage

Has anyone taken a look at http://www.cultureandheritage.govt.nz/copy-right.html ? It has the copyright information from the Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Jusjih 06:17, 21 May 2004 (UTC)

See also Template:NZCrownCopyright.--Jusjih 12:36, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

Multilingual Wikisource has applied the same copyright policy as English Wikisource to disallow fair use and non-commercial licenses, so please do not add copyrighted Maori lyrics to Wikisource through 2078. We can claim fair use at Wikipedia articles but not Wikisource.--Jusjih 05:16, 7 July 2006 (UTC)

[edit] How to sing the song?

Today I observed the assembly of a local primary school on Dominion Road of Auckland. They sing the Maori version first, and then with the key transposed, they sing the English version. Was it the same in other places through New Zealand? -- Tomchiukc 07:10, 19 Nov 2004 (UTC)

I have noticed that it has become common practice especially at sporting matches to sing the Maori version first. This may be because in general the Maori version is not as well known, so people sing a bit quieter and not as confident. When you come to the English version everyone knows it and so sings louder and it sounds more impressive. That's just my theory anyway. Evil Monkey → Talk 02:02, Dec 9, 2004 (UTC)

Yeah, we kiwis sing the maori version first then the english version. I don't really know why though... Hugh Jass 01:57, 14 August 2005 (UTC)

Umm, no, we don't. AJD 20:41, 2 September 2006 (UTC)

On Anzac day the RSAs sing English then Maori version. 210.86.41.143 08:18, 21 August 2005 (UTC)

I'm having problems too,being that I'm a Yank.I know the lyrics,yet I can't get the tune right.User:Z.Spy 08:42, 5 October 2005..

The Maori verison is nicer and less religious. so it should be first. And, you want to end with a long "god defend new zeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalaaaaaaaaaaannd", and you can't do that with another verse coming along. --Midnighttonight 04:19, 5 March 2006 (UTC)

The official web page explains that there are no set guidelines when singing God Defend New Zealand in both English or Maori. Singing English only, Maori only, English then Maori, and Maori then English are all fine. As some Canadians do mix and alternate English and French lyrics when singing O Canada, has anyone ever heard of mixing and alternating English and Maori lyrics when singing God Defend New Zealand? I have never heard of this.--Jusjih 12:45, 4 June 2006 (UTC)

I nearly always hear it sung Maori first, English second - it's not official, but a very common habit. The article could at least note this (even though evidence is extremely anecdotal). Neftaly 23:32, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Better not to sing the damn thing

Trust me, it's not just Americans who have problems with it. Many of us Kiwis stare in embarrassment at our shoes wishing the gorund would swallow us up whenever this national anthem is sung, as it is so depressingly dreadful, in English or Maori, especially when we have the misfortune of being in the company of foreigners (or, God forbid, attending a sporting fixture on foreign soil). It's not exactly rousing. It is, however, rather characteristic of the national aptitude for poetry and music. We New Zealanders are very good at rugby. And farming. and DIY. And barbecues. And staring at our shoes with an embarrassed grin whenever our natoinal anthem is sung. Get it over with and get on with the Haka! -- ElectricRay 22:18, 21 November 2005 (UTC)

get the fuck out Bigkev

Wait, people are entitled to their opinion. I'm across the Tasman, and I think the Australian national anthem is dreadful, but I love the Kiwi one. There's probably thousands who would shoot me, but it's just the opinion.

Having said that, I completely disagree with ElectricRay. The New Zealand National Anthem would have to be among the best in the world in my books. -- Nintenmo

[edit] God save the Queen???

How can this article say that God save the queen is of equal status????? Most people don't know all the words to God Defend nz let alone God Save the queen, I don't even know what that song sounds like.

Because they are both legally NZ's national anthems: "On Monday, 21 November 1977, then Minister of Internal Affairs Hon D A Highet, announced in the New Zealand Gazette 'that the National Anthems of New Zealand shall be the traditional anthem 'God Save The Queen' and the poem 'God Defend New Zealand', written by Thomas Bracken, as set to music by John Joseph Woods, both being of equal status as national anthems appropriate to the occasion'. This action was given with the consent of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II." [1] Ignorantia juris non excusat, nor is ignorance of the words and tune excusable: if you don't know, learn them. You never know what trouble it may bring you. By way of example, see this footage of John Redwood, the then Secretary of State for Wales, making a fool of himself at a Welsh conference. [2]. (PS: please sign comments with four tildes (~).) Alan Davidson 07:48, 13 August 2006 (UTC)