Opposition leaders may hate it, but singers are coming to God Defend New Zealand's defence.

Labour leader Andrew Little and New Zealand First leader Winston Peters are backing a call to change the anthem.

Mr Little has called the anthem a "dirge".

Singer-songwriter Lizzie Marvelly has performed it at rugby games, and believes it's a stirring song that's easy to sing along to. She said it's always an honour perform both the Maori and English verses at All Blacks games.

Fellow anthem singer and Newstalk ZB host Tim Beveridge argues the anthem is much better than many overseas anthems that often sounds great sung by a 60,000-strong crowd.

Singer-songwriter Lizzie Marvelly:

I personally love God Defend New Zealand.

I think it's both beautiful and stirring, and I love how it's written to so people can sing along.

It's always an honour to perform the anthem, and I feel particularly proud to sing our national song in both te reo Maori and English.

Newstalk ZB's Tim Beveridge:

Our anthem a dirge? Maybe the way Andrew or Winston sing it, it is, but as far as anthems go it’s pretty good.

Yes, there is only one Marsellaise, which is hard to beat but I think ours is one of the better ones.

I love that it has evolved to being sung in both English and Maori and having witnessed 60,000 people singing it at close range, its not bad.

At least it doesn't have the word "girt" in it like the Australian one does.