In 1977, New Zealand adopted "God Defend New Zealand as its national anthem. Did you know that the song was written by an Irish immigrant, Thomas Bracken, more than 100 years previously?
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The Irishman who wrote New Zealand s national anthem
Updated / Monday, 8 Feb 2021
15:01
Thomas Bracken, author of God Defend New Zealand
On February 6th, 1840, over 500 Maori chiefs along with representatives of the British Crown signed the Treaty of Waitangi. The agreement set out certain rights for the Maori people, but handed over governance to England - making New Zealand a British colony.
As a result,
God Save the Queen became the country’s national anthem. But, years later, a second anthem penned by Irish-born poet Thomas Bracken was officially recognised.
Thomas Bracken’s Irish roots
Thomas Bracken was baptised at a Catholic church in Clonee, County Meath on December 30th, 1841. Four years later, during the Great Famine, his mother Margaret died. Then in 1852, his father Thomas, who worked as a postmaster, passed away as well.