Editorial: Our national anthem instils pure pride

The flag debate is partly driven by the argument that it does not represent our growth as a nation, our independence, says Craig Cooper.

Is there such a thing as a great national anthem?

Labour leader Andrew Little, perhaps buoyed by his party's recent success in repeatedly jabbing National in the House over prisoner safety and fight clubs in privately run prisons, has had a crack at God Defend New Zealand.

Criticising the national flag referendum, as it fluttered by, successfully passed in the House this week, Little says our anthem is so bad, many Kiwis opt to sing along to the Australian national anthem.

Personally, each time I hear the Aussies' national anthem it makes me want to take the mickey out of it, and sing "why was I born so beautiful, why was I born at all, I'm no b****y use to anyone" etc etc.

Really? A Kiwi singing along to Advance Australia Fair?

If that's the case then we have a national identity crisis.

We may as well become an extra state of Australia.

The reality is there are no great national anthems. They are lyrically ponderous, and musically struggle to build toward any sort of emotive crescendo.

But do they need to? Is it the anthem we celebrate or the occasion we are attending when it is played?

It would be a cold-hearted Kiwi who did not feel a sense of nationalistic pride on hearing God Defend New Zealand at this year's dawn ceremonies marking 100 years since the Gallipoli landing. The flag debate is partly driven by the argument that it does not represent our growth as a nation, our independence. What is difficult to defend is the cost of the debate - $26 million. That's an expensive argument around the nation's dinner table.

Cost aside, the flag does tie us to Mother England's apron strings. The national anthem does not.