Template:POTD/2012-11-21
The original
God Save the Queen". Legally they have equal status, but "God Defend New Zealand" is more commonly used, and is popularly referred to as "the national anthem". Originally written as a poem, it was set to music as part of a competition in 1876. Over the years its popularity increased, eventually being named the second national anthem on 21 November 1977. The anthem has lyrics in both English and Māori, with slightly different meanings.Composer: John Joseph Woods; Restoration: SMasters