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Thread ID: 134921 2013-09-03 09:17:00 nz national anthem meaning andreap (17151) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1352647 2013-09-03 09:17:00 Good evening everybody and greetings from Italy. I was reading the lyrics of the nz national anthem and I didn't fully understand the meaning of: "from the shafts of strife and war". Can somebody please explain me the meaning? Thank you! andreap (17151)
1352648 2013-09-03 09:36:00 The 'shafts of strife and war' could be read as 'arrows of conflict (or hardship) and war'. The word shaft can also mean arrow.

The anthem is asking God to defend New Zealand from war and conflict (strife).

(As an aside, Shakespeare in Hamlet used the phrase 'The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune'.)
Terry Porritt (14)
1352649 2013-09-03 10:25:00 Its just poor song writing.

Seems they didn't have a great understanding of the English language back in the day. The entire song is a load of dribble.

Thank bejesus that educational and literacy standards have improved in our modern age.

Now if we would all stop singing songs about mythical creatures being there to Guard Pacific's triple star.

That dribble gets in the way of a good game of rugby.
Metla (12)
1352650 2013-09-03 19:44:00 I think the shaft refers to how the current government are treating us, best we vote them out next year and invite Metla back to take over as President gary67 (56)
1352651 2013-09-03 22:21:00 Haven't they sold our votes yet? R2x1 (4628)
1352652 2013-09-03 22:48:00 That dribble gets in the way of a good game of rugby.
:+1:
Greg (193)
1352653 2013-09-03 23:25:00 That dribble gets in the way of a good game of rugby.

And what are you thoughts on the Haka??
Zippity (58)
1352654 2013-09-03 23:44:00 invite Metla back to take over as President

:+1:
WalOne (4202)
1352655 2013-09-03 23:54:00 The entire song is a load of dribble.


Thats why it was better sung in Maori. :p

But its sort of depressing, like something sung in church or something from 200 years ago.

We need the sort of Anthem to get the masses amped up , like some other countries anthems: positive, go forward ,do anything , we are the best type of Lyrics
1101 (13337)
1352656 2013-09-04 00:06:00 I find the anthem quite stirring, makes me feel proud to be a Caucasian New Zealander of British descent. Always hated the haka and the people preforming them. prefect (6291)
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