The full dictionary
Every word, A–Z
A
A feed A meal, especially a satisfying one.… A&P show The Agricultural & Pastoral show - the country fair with animals, ride… Ae Yes, from te reo. Simple and increasingly common in everyday NZ speech… Afghan A NZ biscuit - cocoa, cornflakes, chocolate icing, half a walnut on to… All good No problem, don't worry about it, you're welcome. The default response… Angus Someone with a short fuse; an angry person.… Anzac biscuit Oat-and-golden-syrup biscuit tied to the Anzac wartime legacy. Chewy o… Aroha Love, compassion, empathy - from te reo, and one of the most-used Maor… Arvo Afternoon. 'S'arvo' = this afternoon.… As The great Kiwi amplifier. Stick it after any adjective: cheap as, funn… As if Disbelief or refusal - 'no way', 'you're dreaming'. Sometimes 'as if, … At A sharp 'no' or 'whatever' — East Coast/Gisborne. One syllable, total … Aunty Any respected older woman, related or not. A mark of respect in Maori … Awa A river, from te reo - frequently an iwi's ancestral waterway.… Away laughing Doing well, sorted, cruising. 'Once the engine started we were away la… Aye The other spelling of eh, favoured by people who feel two letters cann…
B
Bach A holiday home, traditionally small and rustic. Pronounced 'batch'. So… Bach block The cluster of holiday homes at a beach or lake settlement. Kiwi summe… Bach key under the mat The trusting NZ tradition of leaving the holiday-home key in an obviou… Bae The alternative spelling of bey, preferred by people who think they're… Bags To claim something first - 'bags the front seat!'… Bags not The reverse claim - opting out first. 'Bags not last.'… Bee's knees Excellent, top-notch. Slightly old-fashioned, still fond.… Bevvy A beverage, specifically an alcoholic one. 'Few quiet bevvies.'… Bey East Coast / Gisborne term of address, roughly 'bro'. Pronounced 'bay'… Bikkie A biscuit (cookie). 'Cuppa and a bikkie.'… Bloody The all-purpose NZ intensifier. Bloody cold, bloody good, bloody oath.… Blowhard Someone all talk and no action; a big skiter.… Bo A briefly fashionable replacement for 'bro'. If you used it, you know.… Bogan Someone devoted to black jeans, metal, and a modified Holden. Worn as … Boil-up A hearty Maori dish - pork bones, watercress, dumplings (doughboys) an… Bol Another regional stand-in for 'bro', heard in parts of the North Islan… Bonnet The hood of a car.… Boot The trunk of a car.… Bottle shop Liquor store. Often 'the bottle-o'.… Botz Acting up, showing off, or being over-the-top. 'What botz guy.'… Box of beers A carton/case of beer. The currency of NZ favours - 'I'll owe you a bo… Box of birds Feeling great, in fine form. 'How are you? Box of birds!'… Brass monkeys Extremely cold. 'It's brass monkeys out there.'… Brekkie Breakfast. 'Big brekkie before the tramp.'… Bring a plate An instruction to bring food to share — NOT an empty plate. Foreigners… Bro Universal term of address for anyone — mate, stranger, taxi driver, th… Bro-in-law Your mate who's basically family, or your actual brother-in-law - cont… Bugger all Very little; almost nothing.… Bugger all on Nothing happening; a quiet day. 'Bugger all on this weekend.'… Bugger me days An exclamation of surprise. Gentle old-school swearing.… Buggered Exhausted; or broken. You can be buggered and your car can be buggered… Bung Broken or not working; sometimes drunk. A bung knee is a Kiwi institut… Buzzy Weird, surreal, or intense in a good-or-bad way. 'That's buzzy.' Also …
C
Cab sav Cabernet sauvignon, or just 'the red wine I'm having'. Middle-NZ dinne… Cabbage A fool, or someone not thinking straight. Gentle.… Can't be bothered Too lazy or unwilling to do something. Variants: can't be stuffed, can… Cardie A cardigan. Nana-approved warmth.… Chch Christchurch, in text and speech ('Church' or 'Cheech'). Garden City, … Che A cousin of chur — 'nice one', 'oh wow', 'neat alright'. One syllable,… Chea The long-form spelling of che, for people who feel one syllable deserv… Cheerio A little cocktail sausage, the party-food kind dipped in tomato sauce.… Cheese and vegemite A NZ sandwich combo debate-starter (or marmite). Lunchbox politics.… Cheese roll A Southland delicacy AND a mild dig at a Southlander. Cheesy, rolled, … Chilly bin Insulated cooler for keeping drinks and kai cold. The centrepiece of e… Chip and chase A rugby move - kick over the defence and run onto it. Also a life meta… Chippie sammie A sandwich with potato chips inside - buttered bread, crisps, done. Pe… Chippies Potato chips/crisps - or a tradesperson (chippie = carpenter). Context… Cho0r A drawn-out, extra-warm 'chur', spelling optional. The more O's, the m… Choccie Chocolate. 'Need some choccie.'… Chocka Completely full — a room, a car park, or your stomach. Full version: c… Chocka block Completely full, jammed. Longer form of 'chocka'.… Chocka the freezer Fill the freezer up completely - a very NZ act of provision (whitebait… Chocka with it Fed up, had enough. 'I'm chocka with it.'… Chocolate fish A fish-shaped marshmallow lolly in chocolate - and a reward ('give tha… Choice Good, cool, excellent. A one-word blessing on any plan or object.… Choice as bro The maximum approval stack - choice + as + bro. Nothing gets more enth… Choice bro Double-barrelled approval - 'choice' plus 'bro' for extra warmth. The … Choice bro sorted The full Kiwi resolution - approval, brotherhood and 'done' in three w… Choice mint Doubled-up approval - two NZ praise words for the price of one.… Choof off To leave, head away. 'Right, I'm going to choof off.'… Chook A chicken — the live, clucking kind or occasionally the roast.… Chunder To vomit, usually from drink or seasickness. Vivid and onomatopoeic.… Chur Cheers, thanks, cool, no problem, or just hello. Doubles up as 'chur c… Chur box Nickname for the chilly bin or a box of beers you're grateful for. Pla… Chur bro merchant Someone who says 'chur bro' constantly - a good-natured jab at the cla… Chur for the kai Thanks for the food - stacking 'chur' with the Maori word for food. Po… Chur-bye A quick warm sign-off blending 'chur' and 'bye'. Very texting-era NZ.… Chur-cuz economy The NZ favour system - mates helping mates for a box of beers or a fee… Coasties People from the West Coast of the South Island - hardy, independent, p… Cobber An old-fashioned word for mate or friend. Your grandad's 'bro'.… Cockie A farmer, especially a cow cockie (dairy farmer). Old rural term of gr… Crack up Extremely funny, or to laugh hard. 'That's crack up' is a complete rev… Cracker Something excellent ('a cracker of a day') or a fool, depending on ton… Crook Sick, unwell. 'Feeling a bit crook' is the standard sickie phone call.… Crook as a dog Very sick. Vivid NZ illness phrase.… Cuppa A hot drink, usually tea or coffee, always an invitation to sit down a… Cuppa and a yarn A cup of tea and a good chat - the basic unit of NZ friendship.… Cuppa tea sorted Everything's fine now - because in NZ a cup of tea genuinely fixes mos… Custard square A bakery slab of custard between pastry, iced on top. NZ afternoon-tea… Cut a track To leave, head off.… Cuz Short for cousin, but rarely means an actual relative. A warm, casual … Cuzzie bro Warm compound of 'cousin' and 'bro' - a mate who's like whanau.… Cuzzy nuts Playful extension of cuzzy - mates, the crew. 'The cuzzy nuts are comi…
D
Dags The mucky matted wool on a sheep's backside - and, oddly, a funny pers… Dairy The corner shop. Sells milk, pies, lollies, and everything you forgot … Daylight robbery Being grossly overcharged. 'Six bucks for a coffee? Daylight robbery.'… Devon The cheap processed luncheon meat in every school sandwich. Fried, it'… Dick A fool or jerk - blunt, common, mild by NZ standards.… Dinky-di Genuine, the real thing. 'Dinky-di Kiwi.'… Dodgy Suspicious, unreliable, or of questionable quality — a person, a kebab… Doing the mahi Putting in the work - and its scripture-tier companion, 'do the mahi, … Dole Unemployment benefit. 'On the dole.'… Dork A socially awkward or silly person - gentle.… Doughboy A dumpling in a boil-up - fluffy and filling. Sometimes 'doughboys'.… Down south Anywhere further south than the speaker, but especially Otago/Southlan… Dropkick A useless or hopeless person; a waste of space. More disappointed than… Dunga A beat-up old car that refuses to die.… Durries Cigarettes.…
E
E hoa Maori for 'friend'. Also the likely origin of the exclamation 'ow'. If… Eftpos The debit card payment system, and by extension the card itself. 'Eftp… Egg Gentle insult for someone acting like an idiot. More affectionate than… Egg beater Someone who stirs up trouble; a wind-up merchant. Also literally the k… Egg on legs An extended, sillier 'egg' - a total goose. Deploy fondly.… Egg-cellent A groan-worthy pun on 'excellent', beloved because 'egg' is already NZ… Eh The famous sentence-ending particle: seeks agreement, expresses surpri…
F
Faaa Elastic exclamation of surprise, joy or despair. The longer the 'faaa'… Fair suck of the sav An objection at unfairness - 'give me a fair go'. Sav = saveloy sausag… Far out brussel sprout A playful, extended 'far out' - surprise dialled up with a bit of nons… Feijoa The green egg-shaped fruit that floods NZ backyards in autumn - you ei… Fend A rugby stiff-arm to push off a tackler - and, figuratively, brushing … Fish n chip Friday The sacred NZ tradition of takeaway fish and chips to end the week. Ea… Fizzy drink Any carbonated soft drink.… Flash Fancy, upmarket, impressive-looking. 'Nothing flash' is the standard K… Flat A shared rental house, and the people in it. 'Going flatting' is a Kiw… Flat out Extremely busy, or at top speed. 'Flat out like a lizard drinking.'… Flogged Stolen; or thrashed/beaten badly. Two meanings, both painful for someb… Fluffy A frothy milk drink for kids - steamed milk foam, sometimes with a mar… Full noise At maximum - full speed, full volume, full effort. 'Going full noise.'… Fulla A bloke, a guy. Phonetic spelling of 'fella'. Often 'that fulla' when …
G
Gap it To leave quickly; to run away.… Gassed Exhausted, out of energy - 'totally gassed'. Sports and general.… GC Short for 'good c***' — printable initials for the highest character r… Get amongst it An enthusiastic call to join in - a party, a project, a plate of food.… Get off the grass Expression of disbelief - 'no way', 'you're kidding'. 'Get off the gra… Get stuck in Start with gusto - eat, work, or fight. 'Get stuck in, boys.'… Give her heaps Go all out - 'her' being the car, the job, whatever. 'Give her heaps!'… Give it a nudge Give it a decent go, or push a limit. 'Give the record a nudge.'… Give it a rest Stop it, enough now. Mild exasperation.… Give it a whirl Have a go, try it out.… Give it heaps Go hard, put in maximum effort, or criticise loudly. 'Give it heaps, b… Give it socks Give maximum effort. 'Give it socks, boys!'… Give us a burl Give it a go, have a try. 'Burl' = attempt.… Gizza 'Give us a' — which means give ME a. Gizza look, gizza go, gizza hand.… Gizza gizz A greeting/request mashup heard in the regions - 'give us a' plus a ch… Gizzy Gisborne. First city to see the sun. Coastie heartland.… Godzone New Zealand itself - 'God's own country' shortened. Patriotic and a bi… Golden point Sudden-death extra time in league. Tension distilled.… Good as gold All fine, no worries, everything's sorted. NZ's cheerful all-clear.… Good bastard High praise for a generous, reliable person. The profanity is the poin… Goon Cheap cask wine - the silver bladder inside the box. Student fuel. 'Go… Grommet A young surfer or skater; a kid learning the ropes. 'Grom' for short.… Gronk An idiot or oaf; a bit dim. Blunt but not vicious.… Gumboot day A wet, muddy day requiring gumboots - or the actual Taihape festival.… Gumboots Rubber boots. Rural NZ's national footwear; Taihape holds an annual gu… Gummon 'C'mon!' with a hard G — protest at a weak excuse or soft effort. Born… Gutted Deeply disappointed, deflated. Also shortened: 'guts to be you'.…
H
Haere mai Welcome, come here - te reo greeting of welcome.… Haere ra Goodbye (to someone leaving), from te reo. The farewell counterpart to… Hakas The ceremonial challenge/dance, most famously the All Blacks' pre-matc… Handle A pint-ish glass of beer with a handle, the standard pub pour in much … Hangi pants Someone who gets around romantically. A hangi feeds everyone; you can … Hard case A funny, eccentric character; someone who cracks you up.… Hard yakka Hard work, real graft. From an Aboriginal-derived word, common trans-T… Hard yakka merchant Someone who does the hard graft without complaint. High praise on a wo… Hard yakka today A day of real graft. Worksite report.… Harden up Toughen up, stop complaining. Traditionally paired with 'take some con… Hardout Extremely (hardout cold), enthusiastic agreement (hardout!), or a hard… Have a yarn To have a conversation. NZ's default social verb.… Heaps Lots, very, a large amount. Kiwis say it heaps.… Hoha Annoyed, bothered, or a nuisance. From te reo. 'I'm getting hoha with … Hokey pokey Honeycomb toffee, and the beloved NZ ice cream flavour built around it… Honest to who 'Really?' — with the traditional reply 'honest to G', escalating to fu… Hoon around To drive recklessly or muck about loudly, especially in a car. 'Hoonin… Hori Describes something scruffy, rough or done cheap-and-nasty. Use with c… Hot chips French fries — usually thick-cut, from the fish'n'chip shop, eaten off… Howzit A greeting — 'how's it going' compressed into one word. No answer requ… Hui A meeting or gathering. Used across NZ workplaces and communities now,… Hungus Someone who eats everything in sight, or takes more than their share. … Huss Depends where you are: tacky/hussy-ish in some regions, or (Christchur…
J
Jafa An Aucklander, as described by everyone else in NZ. Acronym: Just Anot… Jaffa A chocolate ball in a hard orange shell - and the annual Dunedin race … Jandals Flip flops. Etymology: 'Japanese sandals'. Wearing them year-round is … Jug A pitcher of beer to share around the table. 'Whose shout for the jug?… Jumper A jersey, sweater or sweatshirt. Mum's eternal advice: take a jumper.…
K
Ka kite See you later, from te reo - often 'ka kite ano'. Signed off many a NZ… Ka mau te wehi An expression of awe - 'awesome', 'amazing'. High te reo praise.… Ka pai Good, well done - a gentle te reo affirmation, common in classrooms.… Kai Food. From te reo Maori, used by everyone.… Kai time Meal time. 'Righto, kai time.'… Kao No, from te reo. The counterpart to 'ae'.… Kaupapa A purpose, plan, or set of principles - now common in NZ workplaces an… Keen Eager, interested, up for it. 'Keen as' is full enthusiasm; 'keen?' is… Keen as a bean Very enthusiastic - rhyming embellishment of 'keen as'.… Kia kaha Maori for 'stay strong'. Said in hard times, grief, and national momen… Kia ora Hello, thanks, cheers, good health - the most famous te reo phrase, us… Kina Sea urchin - a prized (and divisive) Maori delicacy. Strong flavour, n… Kiwi dip Reduced cream mixed with onion soup powder - the dip at every NZ gathe… Knackered Extremely tired. Warning: sounds like 'naked' to Londoners, with predi… Koha A gift or donation, often at events - reciprocity is the point. 'Koha … Kumara Sweet potato, a Maori-introduced staple. In everything from chips to t…
L
L&P Lemon & Paeroa - the fizzy drink 'world famous in New Zealand', made f… Leg it To run, fast, usually away from something.… Legend A top person; someone who did you a solid. NZ's default gratitude noun… Lippy Lipstick. 'Quick, need my lippy.'… Lollies Sweets, candy. A 'mixed bag' from the dairy is a childhood rite.… Lolly cake A NZ classic - crushed malt biscuits, condensed milk and fruit puff lo…
M
Macca's McDonald's. The only name anyone actually uses.… Maccas run A trip to McDonald's - the sacred late-night or hangover mission.… Mahi Work, effort. 'Doing the mahi' means putting in the graft — and 'do th… Mahi's done The work is finished - satisfaction in three words.… Mallowpuff A NZ biscuit - marshmallow dome on a biscuit base, chocolate coated. F… Mana Prestige, authority, spiritual power - a person's standing. Deeply imp… Marae The communal Maori meeting grounds - the wharenui and surrounds, heart… Marmite The NZ yeast spread (not the UK one - different recipe, and Kiwis will… Maunga A mountain, from te reo - often a sacred ancestral landmark.… Mean High praise: excellent, awesome, impressive. 'The meanest' is the best… Mean as Excellent, awesome - 'mean' with the signature 'as' intensifier. Nothi… Meathead A big, tough, not-especially-bright bloke. Gym-and-protein energy.… Metal road A gravel road. 'Metal' means the loose gravel surface, which confuses … Mince Ground beef. The foundation of half of NZ home cooking.… Mince and cheese The default pie flavour - NZ's unofficial national dish. Mince, cheese… Mint In perfect condition, or just excellent.… Mish A mission — any journey or task requiring effort. 'Keen for a mish?'… Moana The sea or ocean, from te reo. Also a very common name.… Mokopuna Grandchild(ren), from te reo - often shortened to 'moko'. Term of deep… Mufti Casual clothes worn on a non-uniform day. 'Mufti day' funds every scho… Munch Food, or to eat. 'Got any munch?'… Mungas The munchies, or a general craving for food. 'Got the mungas.'… Munt The verb behind munted - to break or wreck something. 'Don't munt it.'… Munted Broken, wrecked, or extremely drunk. A phone, a fence or a mate can al… Munted as Extremely broken or extremely drunk, with the 'as' turning it up to el… Munted as a cut snake Extremely drunk or extremely angry, depending. Vivid rural imagery.… Munted as jandals Comprehensively wrecked - jandals being famously flimsy after a season… Munted as, aye Regional confirmation that something's wrecked, with the classic tag q… Munted as, bro Everyday declaration that something's wrecked - or that you are. Peak … Munted at the races A very specific NZ state - drunk and dressed up at the horse races. Cu… Munted from the mahi Exhausted from work. NZ's tired-but-proud state.… Munted in the head A bit crazy or foolish - affectionate or literal.… Munted knee The classic Kiwi injury - a wrecked knee, usually from rugby or DIY.… Munted logic Flawed reasoning; a broken argument. 'That's munted logic, mate.'… Munted merchant Someone always wrecking things or wrecked themselves. NZ 'merchant' su… Munted munter Peak affectionate insult - a wrecked fool. Only among mates.… Munted my back Injured my back - 'munted' applied to the body. Common tradie lament.… Munted my bag Wrecked my schoolbag - or, figuratively, ruined my stuff.… Munted roads Wrecked roads - potholed, slipped, storm-damaged. A NZ regional consta… Munted the diet Blew the healthy eating - usually at a barbecue or bakery. Cheerful de… Munted the group chat Said something that killed the vibe in the chat - modern social misste… Munted the landing Failed at the final step; fell over at the finish. Sporty imagery.… Munted the plan Ruined the plan. 'Rain munted the plan.'… Munted the printer The universal office lament - the printer's broken again. 'Munted' mee… Munted the roster Messed up the schedule. Workplace NZ.… Munted the tackle Missed or botched a tackle - and, figuratively, fluffed an attempt.… Munted the vibe Ruined the mood or atmosphere. 'He munted the vibe.'… Munted the vibe again Repeat offence of ruining the mood - said with a sigh.… Munted the weekend Wrecked the weekend - by overdoing it, or by bad luck. 'Rain munted th… Munted the whip Wrecked the car ('whip'). Youth slang meets the classic.… Munted the whole shebang Wrecked the entire thing. Emphatic.… Munted the whole thing Broke or ruined it completely. 'Well, I munted that.'… Munted unit An absolute state of a person or thing - affectionately wrecked. 'What… Munted, aye The all-purpose NZ observation that something's broken, with the tag q… Munted, but she'll be right The complete NZ philosophy in five words: broken, yet optimistic.… Munter A fool, a clown, someone acting munted.… Munter at school The class clown or troublemaker. School-era 'munter'.… Munter mode Full foolish or full-effort mode, depending on region. 'He's in munter… Munter move A foolish action. 'Classic munter move.'… Munter of the highest order An emphatic fool - very NZ overstatement.… Munternational Jokingly 'internationally munted' - extremely wrecked. A bit of Kiwi w… My man Friendly address for a bloke you approve of, often with a nod. Deliver…
N
Nailed it Did it perfectly - or, said dryly, failed spectacularly. Tone is every… Naki Taranaki - the region and its main vibe. 'Heading up the Naki.'… Nana To act overly cautious or fussy ('driving like a nana'), or literally … Nek minnit 'Next minute' — narrating a sudden turn of events. Born from a legenda… No dramas No problem, all fine. 'No dramas, mate.'… Not even Flat denial — 'no way', 'that's not true'. Pairs famously with 'ow' fo… Not here to muck around Serious, focused, down to business. Often ironic before doing exactly … Nuggets An exclamation of mild frustration - 'oh nuggets'. Kid-safe swearing.… Number 8 wire The DIY, fix-anything-with-what's-lying-around mentality. From the fen…
O
O for awesome A legendarily wrong answer from a NZ celebrity spelling segment, now u… On the marae At the communal Maori grounds - and, figuratively, in a space of proto… On the piss Out drinking, having a big night.… On the piss again Back out drinking - said of a mate with a pattern. Half judgment, half… Oosh An exclamation for something impressive or a big hit — 'oooosh!'… Op shop Opportunity shop — a second-hand/charity store. Op-shopping is a natio… Op-shopping Second-hand charity-shop browsing - a national thrifty pastime.… Out of it Wildly drunk or wasted; also, in older usage, something unbelievable.… Ow An exclamation stapled to the end of a sentence for emphasis, often wi…
P
Pack a sad To sulk or throw a tantrum; also used when machinery gives up.… Pakaru Maori for broken or busted. Often anglicised as 'puckeroo'.… Pakeha A New Zealander of European descent - the standard, neutral te reo ter… Palangi Samoan word for a European/white person, common across NZ. Usually fri… Palmy Palmerston North. Said with affection or a smirk, depending.… Pash To kiss passionately. A 'pash' at the school disco is a rite of passag… Paua Abalone - the iridescent-shelled shellfish. The meat's a delicacy, the… Piece of piss Extremely easy. NZ's answer to 'piece of cake', with less cake.… Pineapple lump The uniquely NZ chocolate-covered chewy pineapple lolly. Baffles and c… Piss up A big drinking session or party. 'Massive piss up on Saturday.'… Pissed Drunk. Not angry (that's the American version — a rich source of confu… Powhiri The Maori welcome ceremony onto a marae. Formal, moving, essential.… Primo First-rate, excellent, the best.… Puku Belly or stomach, from te reo. 'Sore puku' or 'full puku'.… Pull the pin To quit, cancel, or call it off. 'We pulled the pin on the trip.'…
R
Rack A slab/case of beer, especially a rack of cans. 'Chuck a rack in the c… Rark up To tell someone off, or to fire someone up. 'The coach rarked them up.… Rattle your dags Hurry up, get moving. 'Dags' are the mucky wool clumps on a sheep's re… Raxed Stolen, nicked. Also 'rax' — to steal.… Reckon Think, or believe. On its own, an enthusiastic agreement: 'I reckon!'… Red bands Red-banded gumboots - the definitive NZ farm footwear brand-turned-nou… Rewena Maori sourdough bread made with a fermented potato starter. Dense, tan… Rip in Get stuck in, go hard, commit fully. 'Rip in the boys.'… Rotovegas Rotorua - jokingly glammed up as a 'Vegas'. Also nods to the sulphur s… Round the traps Out and about, here and there - 'seen him round the traps'. Vague soci… RTD Ready-to-drink premixed spirits - the sugary cans of youth. 'On the RT… Rugby head Someone obsessed with rugby - lives and breathes the game.…
S
Sad case A pitiable person or situation. 'What a sad case.'… Sad prick A pitiable or contemptible person - affectionate or cutting by tone.… Sad sack A miserable or hopeless sort. 'Don't be a sad sack.'… Sammie A sandwich. Also 'sammy' or 'sanga'.… Sammies for lunch The eternal NZ school lunch - sandwiches, forever.… Sausage roll Pastry-wrapped sausage meat - the other bakery hero beside the pie. Sa… Scarfie A University of Otago student, named for the scarves worn against the … Scull To down a drink in one go without stopping.… Seagull Someone who hovers around scavenging your food — like the bird, but in… Section A residential plot of land. 'Bought a section to build on.'… Seshion / sesh A drinking or smoking session. 'Big sesh planned.'… She'll be right It'll be fine; no need to worry — the load is secure, probably. The na… She's a hard road Life's tough, or this task is - said with rueful acceptance. 'She's a … Shot Thanks, nice one, or well done — all in one syllable.… Shout To pay for someone else — your round, their lunch, the whole table.… Sick Awesome, impressive. Standard youth praise, fully naturalised in NZ.… Sickie A day off work while allegedly sick. 'Chucking a sickie' when you're f… Sin bin Ten minutes off the field for a foul - and, jokingly, any time-out for… Singlet A sleeveless top. Called a vest in the UK, which causes chaos.… Skite To brag or show off. 'Stop skiting.'… Skux Someone smooth, stylish, and suspiciously successful with the opposite… Skux life Living the smooth, stylish life of a 'skux' - part real, part meme.… Smoko A work break — originally for a smoke, now for anything. Morning smoko… Smoko van The mobile food truck that services worksites at break time. Pie-and-C… Snapped Caught in the act. 'You got snapped.'… Snarler A sausage, especially a barbecue one. 'Snags' also works.… Sole Another Samoan-derived term of address, roughly 'mate' or 'bro'. Prono… Sook A cry-baby or sulker; someone soft about things. 'Don't sook.'… Sort yourself out Get it together; pull yourself together. Blunt care.… Southerly A cold wind straight from Antarctica - the weather that defines a Well… Southland burr The distinctive rolled 'r' of Southland speech - the one NZ regional a… Spew To vomit, or to be furious ('I was spewing'). Double duty.… Squiggles A NZ chocolate biscuit with squiggly icing. Lunchbox flex.… Squiz A quick look. 'Have a squiz at this.'… Squizzy A quick look - diminutive of 'squiz'. 'Have a squizzy.'… Stally Someone stingy; not generous.… Steak and cheese The other great pie - chunkier, richer. The eternal pie debate's other… Steinie A Steinlager - a classic NZ beer. 'Crack a steinie.'… Stink Bad luck, disappointing, or lame. 'Stink one' offers condolences; 'a s… Straight up As a question: are you serious? As an answer: yes, completely serious.… Strewth An expression of surprise or dismay - 'God's truth' worn down. A bit o… Stubby A short squat beer bottle. Also short shorts - 'stubbies'.… Sunnies Sunglasses. 'Where'd I put my sunnies?'… Sunny Nelson Nelson, forever branded by its high sunshine hours. Said with civic pr… Suss Two opposite jobs in one word: to sort something out (suss it out), or… Swannie A Swanndri - the heavy woollen bush shirt, NZ's rugged rural uniform.… Sweet as OK, no problem, all good. The most famous Kiwi phrase. Note: nothing c… Sweet as a nut Perfectly fine, all sorted - an embellished 'sweet as'.… Sweet bro Agreement with warmth - 'sweet' plus 'bro'. All good, sorted, no worri…
T
Ta Thanks. Two letters, job done. More common with the older generation.… Take a hike Clear off, go away - blunt dismissal. Also, literally, go tramping.… Taking the piss Mocking someone, joking around, or not taking something seriously. NOT… Tangata whenua 'People of the land' - Maori as the indigenous people of a place. Foun… Tangi A Maori funeral, and the extended grieving gathering. From 'tangihanga… Taonga A treasure or prized possession, from te reo - can be an object, a per… Tauiwi Non-Maori New Zealanders collectively - those who came later. A te reo… Tea Confusingly, dinner. 'What's for tea?' is about food, not beverages.… The ABs The All Blacks - NZ's national rugby team and de facto religion.… The big OE The Overseas Experience - the Kiwi rite of passage of working/travelli… The Cape Cape Reinga, the very top of the North Island where two oceans meet. A… The Mainland The South Island, as South Islanders insist on calling it. Cheeky supe… The Naki coast Taranaki's surf coast - Surf Highway 45 and its legendary breaks.… The Tron Hamilton. Affectionate-slash-ironic nickname (from 'Hamiltron').… The wops The middle of nowhere; deep countryside. Full version: the wop wops.… Tiki tour The scenic route — or a euphemism for getting lost. Any indirect journ… Tim Tam slam Biting the ends off a Tim Tam and using it as a straw for a hot drink.… Tip top The NZ ice cream brand, and an all-purpose 'excellent'. 'Everything's … To the days Suffix meaning 'extremely' or 'to the max'. Auckland high-school vinta… Togs Swimwear of any kind. Togs, togs, togs... undies (if you're too far fr… Togs undies From the famous ad - the line where beachwear ('togs') becomes underwe… Too easy No problem, consider it done. The relaxed Kiwi 'yes'.… Townie A city person, especially as seen by rural folk. Slightly soft, doesn'… Trackies Tracksuit pants. NZ leisurewear and, controversially, acceptable publi… Trolley A shopping cart. Some Kiwis say trundler, which is even better.… True Drawn out as 'truuue' — acknowledgement, agreement, or 'oh really'. Of… Trundler A shopping trolley, or a granny cart. Peak NZ vocabulary.… Try-hard Someone straining for status or coolness they haven't earned.… Tu meke Maori for 'too much' — used to mean awesome, outstanding, overwhelming… Tui A NZ beer, and by extension the 'Yeah right' billboard humour it made … tunning flirting… Tutu To fiddle or meddle with something you probably shouldn't. 'Stop tutu-… Twink Correction fluid (white-out). A brand name that became the word — and … Two-minute noodles Instant noodles - the fuel of students and flats nationwide. A food gr…
U
Uce Term of address from 'uso', Samoan for brother. Used widely across Pas… Unko Uncle, in the Pasifika sense - any respected older man. From the Japan… Up the Coast Depending where you are, the Kapiti Coast, the East Coast, or the West… Up the guts Straight through the middle - rugby, or any direct approach. 'Take it … Up the Wahs Rallying cry for the NZ Warriors - a phenomenon of hope-against-experi… Ute A utility vehicle — pickup truck with a flat tray. Rural NZ's chariot.… Ute muster A gathering of utes and their owners - rural NZ social event and ident…
V
W
Wag To skip school. 'Wagging' is the activity; detention is the sequel.… Wairua Spirit or soul, from te reo. 'The wairua of the place.'… Wally A harmless fool. 'Don't be a wally.'… Wanna hiding? A threat: do you want a beating? Between mates it's banter; from a str… Warriors The NZ Warriors - the rugby league team that breaks and mends Kiwi hea… Watties The NZ food brand so dominant its name means tomato sauce itself. 'Pas… Wellywood Wellington - a play on Hollywood, thanks to the film industry.… Westie Someone from West Auckland, stereotyped as a mullet-and-Holden bogan. … Wet bus ticket Something feeble or ineffectual - 'a telling-off like a wet bus ticket… Whakapapa Genealogy, ancestry, the lines that connect you - a foundational te re… Whanau Family — including the extended, chosen, everyone-who-matters kind.… Whanau time Family time - now used well beyond Maori contexts for any family gathe… Whare A house or building, from te reo. Used casually for home too.… Wharenui The big meeting house on a marae - the heart of the community gatherin… What a sad guy Commentary on someone doing something uncool or mean-spirited.… Whenua Land, and also 'placenta' - reflecting the deep tie between people and… Whip A car, especially a flash one. 'Nice whip.'… Whitebait Tiny translucent fish, netted in spring and fried into fritters. A pri… WINZ Work and Income NZ - the government benefits agency, and the queue you… Wobbly boot The state of being drunk - 'on the wobbly boot'. Old-school and gentle… Wop-wops Already known - but worth the deep-country reminder: the absolute midd… Wouldn't feed him after midnight A joke that someone's a gremlin/troublemaker. Gentle dig.… Wound up like an eight-day clock Extremely tense or agitated. Vintage rural simile.…
Y
Yarn A chat, a story, or to talk at length. 'Good yarn' or 'spin a yarn'.… Yeah nah A polite no, a soft disagreement, or a verbal run-up while you think. … Yeah nah yeah Layered NZ ambivalence resolving to yes - the more 'yeahs' at the end,… Yeah the boys A rallying cry of approval and camaraderie, celebrating mates doing so…