Learn the Lingo!
Thanks to Andrew for providing some of the content below. Check out his full article: Kiwi culture: A primer
Kiwis say stuff funny. Below are some words and phrases you may hear during your visit.
| bach |
pronounced like "batch". A bach is a holiday home, usually near a beach |
| chur |
thanks |
| chilly bin |
Insulated box, for keeping food & drinks cool. Refered to in Australia an an Esky |
| choice |
good, awesome e.g. "That dinner your Mum cooked was choice" |
| cuz |
a male or female cousin but often used to refer to any person |
| dairy |
 convenience store that sells essential items. Dairys stock similar items to 7/11's in Australia but are usually independantly owned and found within suburban areas. |
| dole |
the unemployment benefit |
| duvet |
quilt - refered to in Australia as a doona |
| flat |
shared residence. Refered to in Australia as a sharehouse |
| fulla |
a person, usually male |
| hokey pokey |
a type of candy invented in New Zealand. Most often eaten in tiny balls mixed into vanilla icecream. |
| JAFA |
a derogatory acronym used to describe Aucklanders. Stands for Just Another F***ing Aucklander. The term derives from the fact that 1/3 of New Zealand's population live in Auckland |
| jandals |
rubber summer shoes - known overseas as thongs or flip-flops |
| jersey/jumper |
sweater |
| pakeha |
a non-Maori person |
| stink |
not cool, not great ("Aww, stink, aye, bro?") |
| stubby |
a small bottle of beer |
| sweet as |
cool, great, no worries |
What did we miss? Post a comment and let us know!
