Ko e Iki he Lagi

"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 within the realm of New Zealand.

NASA astronaut image of Niue Island in the Pacific Ocean

Ko e Iki he Lagi
English: The Lord in Heaven
National anthem of Niue
LyricsUnknown
MusicUnknown; prepared by Sioeli Fusikata
Adopted1974
Audio sample
Instrumental version, 2023
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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 King" 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 recognised 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 King" was retained as the royal anthem for when the monarch is present in Niue.[6]

Lyrics
Niuean original[6] IPA transcription[lower-alpha 1] English translation[6]

Ko e Iki he Lagi
Kua fakaalofa[lower-alpha 2] mai
Ki Niue nei, ki Niue nei
Kua pule totonu
E Patuiki toatu[lower-alpha 3]
Kua pule okooko[lower-alpha 4] ki Niue nei

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

Kua pule okooko[lower-alpha 4] ki Niue nei
Kua pule ki Niue nei

[ko e i.ki he la.ŋi]
[ku.a fa.ka.a.lo.fa mai̯]
[ki ni̯u.e nei̯ ki ni̯u.e nei̯]
[ku.a pu.le to.to.nu]
[e pa.tu.i.ki to.a.tu]
[ku.a pu.le o.ko.o.ko ki ni̯u.e nei̯]

[ki ni̯u.e nei̯ ki ni̯u.e nei̯]
[ki ni̯u.e nei̯ ki ni̯u.e nei̯]

[ku.a pu.le o.ko.o.ko ki ni̯u.e nei̯]
[ku.a pu.le ki ni̯u.e nei̯]

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

Over Niue, Over Niue
Over Niue, Over Niue

Who rules completely over Niue
Who rules over Niue

See also

Notes
  1. See Help:IPA, Niuean language § Phonology and Niuean language § Orthography.
  2. Also written faka'alofa.[7]
  3. Sometimes written Kehe patuiki toatu[8] or 'E he patuili to 'atu.[7]
  4. Also written oko'oko.[7]

References
  1. "Niue [Niue National Anthem, "Lord in heaven Thou art merciful..."]". Music.ohiolink.edu. 1 June 2006. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  2. "Complete National Anthems of the World: 2013 Edition" (PDF). www.eclassical.com. 2012.
  3. "Niue". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  4. "Pacific Games". Pacific Islands Monthly. 34: 15. 1963.
  5. "Pacific Games 1963 medalists" (PDF). Athletics Oceania. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  6. "Niue". Nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  7. "Niue Language Week - Flag Raising Ceremony 2015". Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  8. Niue Youth Network NZ (16 October 2015). "NiueYouthNetworkNz Singing - Niue National Anthem, "Ko E Iki He Lagi"". YouTube. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
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