Thomas Bracken in Dunedin, New Zealand

The memorial to Thomas Bracken, presented in 1998 by the Rotary Club of Dunedin to mark the 150th anniversary of the founding of the province of Otago–Southland, stands at the entrance to the Dunedin Northern Cemetery.

 

 

'(1843 – 1898)

THOMAS BRACKEN

ELECTED MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR DUNEDIN CENTRAL (1881) AND THE AUTHOR OF

"GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND"

 

The full version of 'God Defend New Zealand' in English and in Māori.

 

'THIS PLAQUE PRESENTED TO ASSIST THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE GRAVE OF

THOMAS BRACKEN

AUTHOR OF THE N.Z. NATIONAL ANTHEM

"GOD DEFEND NEW ZEALAND"

GIFTED BY THE

ROTARY CLUB OF DUNEDIN

23RD APRIL 1998

75 YEARS IN DUNEDIN – 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF OTAGO'

 

 

So, unlike the graves of other writers buried here (the search for which I had to give up on), Bracken's is inevitably very easy to locate.

 

'SACRED

TO

THE MEMORY OF

THOMAS BRACKEN

POET, JOURNALIST, LEGISLATOR.

BORN IN IRELAND 1843.

DIED IN DUNEDIN 1898.

 

NOT UNDERSTOOD, HOW MANY BREASTS ARE ACHING

FOR LACK OF SYMPATHY, AH! DAY BY DAY

HOW MANY CHEERLESS, LONELY HEARTS ARE BREAKING

HOW MANY NOBLE SPIRITS PASS AWAY

                                                                          NOT UNDERSTOOD.

 

OH GOD! THAT MEN WOULD SEE A LITTLE CLEARER

OR JUDGE LESS HARSHLY WHERE THEY CANNOT SEE

OH GOD! THAT MEN WOULD DRAW A LITTLE NEARER

TO ONE ANOTHER, THEY'D BE NEARER THEE

                                                                           AND UNDERSTOOD.

 

                                                                           THOMAS BRACKEN.'