National Anthem Comparison
Australia vs New Zealand
2
Shared themes
✗
Different moods
2
2 years apart
✓
Same continent
Australia
Advance Australia Fair
New Zealand
God Defend New Zealand
Comparison Analysis
Australia and New Zealand, both Oceania nations, take distinct approaches to their national anthems. Australia's "Advance Australia Fair" was written in 1878, while New Zealand's "God Defend New Zealand" dates to 1876.
Both anthems share themes of nature and freedom. Australia additionally explores unity and prosperity, while New Zealand also touches on god / faith, peace and diversity.
The emotional tones differ: Australia's anthem is joyful, while New Zealand's is prayerful.
Australia changed its national anthem in 2021, reflecting a shift in the nation's identity or political landscape.
Shared themes
Australia
🌿 Nature 🤝 Unity 🌾 Prosperity 🕊 Freedom
New Zealand
✝ God / Faith 🌿 Nature ☮ Peace 🕊 Freedom 🌈 Diversity
Shared themes:
🌿 Nature 🕊 Freedom
Metadata
| Australia | New Zealand | |
|---|---|---|
| Written | 1878 | 1876 |
| Adopted | 1984 | 1977 |
| Lyricist | Peter Dodds McCormick | Thomas Bracken (English, 1876); Māori translation by Thomas Henry Smith (1878) |
| Composer | Peter Dodds McCormick | John Joseph Woods |
| Language | en | mi,en |
| Region | Australasia | Polynesia |
Lyrics Side by Side
Australia
Advance Australia Fair
Original
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are one and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross
We'll toil with hearts and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours
Renowned of all the lands;
For those who've come across the seas
We've boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine
To Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.
New Zealand
God Defend New Zealand
Original
[Te Reo Māori]
E Ihowā Atua,
O ngā iwi mātou rā
Āta whakarangona;
Me aroha noa
Kia hua ko te pai;
Kia tau tō atawhai;
Manaakitia mai
Aotearoa
[English]
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.
Translation
[Te Reo Māori]
O Lord God,
Of the nations and of us,
Listen closely;
Cherish us;
Let goodness flourish;
May your care rest upon us;
Protect
Aotearoa
[English]
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.
Interesting facts
Australia
- 1. McCormick's original song had four verses. The official anthem keeps a revised first verse and, as its second, a verse from a version written for Federation in 1901; McCormick's own second verse, about Captain Cook raising 'old England's flag', was dropped.
- 2. At the opening ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympics, the anthem was sung by Julie Anthony and the vocal group Human Nature, accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
- 3. In the 1977 national song poll, 'Advance Australia Fair' led on first preferences with 43.6%, ahead of 'Waltzing Matilda' (28.5%), 'God Save the Queen' (18.7%) and 'Song of Australia' (9.7%); it won after preferences were distributed.
New Zealand
- 1. Thomas Bracken first published the words in July 1876 in the Dunedin newspaper he edited, announcing a contest for the best tune to go with them; it was won by John Joseph Woods, a young schoolteacher in Lawrence, Central Otago.
- 2. At the 1999 Rugby World Cup, Hinewehi Mohi sang the anthem only in Maori before the All Blacks' match against England at Twickenham; the debate that followed led to the now customary practice of singing it in both Maori and English.
- 3. The Maori version was written in 1878 by Thomas Henry Smith, a judge of the Native Land Court. It is a translation, but not a word-for-word one, and its meaning differs slightly from the English.
Listen
Australia
New Zealand
