Ko e Iki he Lagi

Ko e Iki he Lagi
English: The Lord in Heaven

National anthem of Niue

Adopted 1974

"Ko e Iki he Lagi" (English: The Lord in Heaven), also titled in English as "Lord in heaven, Thou art merciful",[1] is the national anthem of Niue. It was adopted in 1974 when Niue became a self-governing state.

History

During Niue's history as a territory of New Zealand, the national anthem of Niue was New Zealand's "God Defend New Zealand". "God Save the Queen" was also used and is still used as the royal anthem for the Monarchy of New Zealand. "Ko e Iki he Lagi" was created before the 1970s. It is not known who wrote it but it is known that it was prepared by Sioeli Fusikata.[2][3] When it was written, it had become a popular song on Niue but the opportunity rarely arose for people to perform it publicly. In the 1963 South Pacific Games, Niue used the Flag of New Zealand as the flag to represent them in keeping with the rest of the colonies of the British Empire not using the Union Jack at the games. Niue also used "Ko e Iki he Lagi" as their anthem instead of "God Defend New Zealand" because the organisers had requested that "identifying tunes" be used to represent nations at the games instead of recognized national anthems.[4] However, Niue failed to win any events so "Ko e Iki he Lagi" was not performed at the games.[5]

In 1974, the same year that Niue's new constitution granted Niue the status of free association with New Zealand upon the passage of the Niue Constitution Act 1974 in the Parliament of New Zealand, Niue adopted "Ko e Iki he Lagi" as their national anthem to supersede "God Defend New Zealand".[3] "God Save the Queen" was retained as the royal anthem for when the monarch is present in Niue.[6]

Niuean text

Ko e Iki he Lagi
Kua fakaalofa mai
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Kua pule totonu
E Patuiki toatu
Kua pule okooko ki Niue nei

Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Ki Niue nei

Kua pule okooko ki Niue nei
Kua pule ki Niue nei

English translation

The Lord in Heaven
Who loves
Niue
Who rules kindly
The Almighty
Who rules completely over Niue

Over Niue, Over Niue
Over Niue, Over Niue
Over Niue, Over Niue
Over Niue

Who rules completely over Niue
Who rules over Niue

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Niue [Niue National Anthem, "Lord in heaven Thou art merciful..."]". Music.ohiolink.edu. 2006-06-01. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  2. ↑ "Niue Government Stats Compared". Nationmaster.com. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  3. 1 2 "Niue". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  4. ↑ "Pacific Games". Pacific Publications (Pacific Islands Monthly) 34: 15. 1963.
  5. ↑ "Pacific Games 1963 medalists" (PDF). Athletics Oceania. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
  6. ↑ "Niue". Nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 2014-07-11.
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