The Sunday after the major earthquake occurred here in Christchurchm NZ, our church sung our full national anthem for the first time ever.
This was a major thing for all of us because compared to Americans or British, we don't like singing ours. Here in New Zealand theres a thing called tall poppy syndrome, where we don't encourage pride, boastfulness, skiting etc even in our country. It sounds harsh I know (and I think people who sing their national anthem are cool), but we're a country of people who would rather let our actions speak than our words.
Anyway when we sang this song it meant a lot for us as a christian community grieving along with the rest of the city and that we had been complacent in the fact that we had gone along with the rest of our secular athiest countrymen in not bothering to sing it anymore. While singing it we realised it wasnt some weird colonialist rant written by a pompous Brit (as we all claim it to be) but a wonderfully sincere worship song written by a British settler who moved here and genuinely loved NZ so much, they never left. Besides, as much as we dislike being in the Commonwealth, we all know someone with a Scottish or English grandparent/great grandparent
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.
Men of ev'ry creed and race, Gather here before Thy face, Asking Thee to bless this place, God defend our free land, From dissension, envy, hate, And corruption guard our State, Make our country good and great, God defend New Zealand
Peace, not war, shall be our boast, But should our foes assail our coast, Make us then a mighty host, God defend our free land, Lord of battles, in Thy might, Put our enemies to flight, Let our cause be just and right, God defend New Zealand
Let our love for Thee increase, May Thy blessings never cease, Give us plenty, give us peace, God defend our free land, From dishonour and from shame, Guard our country's spotless name, Crown her with immortal fame, God defend New Zealand
May our mountains ever be, Freedom's ramparts on the sea, Make us faithful unto Thee, God defend our free land, Guide her in the nations' van, Preaching love and truth to man, Working out Thy Glorious plan, God defend New Zealand