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The lyrics

God save our gracious King!
Long live our noble King!
God save The King!
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us,
God save The King.


Thy choicest gifts in store
On him be pleased to pour,
Long may he reign.
May he defend our laws,
And ever give us cause,
To sing with heart and voice,
God save The King.

Listen to the anthem in te reo Māori

You can listen to a version of ‘God Save The Queen’ in te reo Māori on Te Ara website. It was written in 1860 and recorded in 1971.

'God save the Queen' in te reo Māori (Te Ara)

Anthem’s history

‘God Save The Queen’ has been the traditional anthem of New Zealand since 1840. It is the oldest and possibly best known of all national anthems. Following the accession of King Charles III to the throne in September 2022, the words changed to ‘God Save The King’.

Since 1977, New Zealand has had two national anthems of equal status, ‘God Save The Queen’ (now ‘God Save the King’) and ‘God Defend New Zealand.’  

There is no authorised version of ‘God Save The King’ as the words are a matter of tradition. Additional verses have been added down the years, but these are rarely used.

Early in the twentieth century attempts were made to include verses applying to New Zealand. One such verse by E S Emerson was approved by King Edward VII but was never adopted.

A New Zealand version

A verse David Scott wrote for Commonwealth Day is now in use in New Zealand.

First used in 1993 for Commonwealth Day observance at Westminster Abbey, it is also now used at the Wellington Cathedral of St Paul for Commonwealth Day observances.

Scott’s version recognises the nations of the Commonwealth and replaces the anthem’s second verse. 

Lyrics for David Scott verse

Not on this land alone
But be God’s mercies known
From shore to shore.
Lord, make the nations see
That we in liberty
Should form one family
The wide world o’er.