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Story: National anthems

John Woods: musician

Composer John Woods was a keen musician who was reputed to be competent on no less than 12 musical instruments, and a good singer. Here he is shown (front row, third from left) as a violinist in the Lawrence Orchestra, probably in the 1890s or early 1900s.

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Hocken Collections, University of Otago

Reference: S11-268a

Permission of the Hocken Collections Uare Taoka o Hakena, University of Otago, must be obtained before any re-use of this image. Further information may be obtained from the Library through its website.

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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/zoomify/33765/john-woods-musician (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Nancy Swarbrick, published 2 April 2012.