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Story: National anthems

Thomas Bracken: memorial

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Thomas Bracken: memorial

This memorial to Thomas Bracken was erected by Rotary in the Northern Cemetery, Dunedin, in 1998, and includes the words to 'God defend New Zealand' in both English and Māori. It is not far from Bracken's grave – he died in poverty in Dunedin in 1898, at the age of 56.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Janine Faulknor

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How to cite this page

Nancy Swarbrick, National anthems – History of ‘God defend New Zealand’, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/33763/thomas-bracken-memorial (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 April 2012.