We've been singing this iconic New Zealand song wrong for 50 years

The daughter of the composer of iconic Kiwi song Tutira Mai Nga Iwi says we have been singing it wrong for 50 years.

In an interview with the Te Karere, Ngatai Huata said the Ministry of Education had "a lot to answer for" after allowing its publication without consent.

As a consequence the song had been sung with the wrong lyrics for the past five decades.

"They allowed the publication of Tutira Mai Nga in all the songbooks of New Zealand schools. They never sought consent, they never bothered to find out who wrote it, and they consequently wrote the wrong words," she said.

Huata said the correct words in the third-to-last line were "kia tapatahi" not "kia ko tapatahi".

The song was composed by Canon Wi Te Tau Huata, a chaplain during WWII.

When he returned from war, Huata composed a number of iconic songs, including his rendition of How Great Thou Art into Whakaaria mai. He also composed Pā Mai and A.E.I.O.U.

"Our father wrote it for all people, regardless of race, creed, beliefs, political stances, it was there for all people to stand as one," Ngatai Huata said.

The song was used by New Zealand Rugby to promote the current Lions tour.