Pineapple lump
The uniquely NZ chocolate-covered chewy pineapple lolly. Baffles and converts tourists.
"Grab a bag of pineapple lumps for the road."
The dictionary · best-rated first · page 16 of 22
Piss up
A big drinking session or party. 'Massive piss up on Saturday.'
"Work Christmas piss up got messy."
Pissed
Drunk. Not angry (that's the American version — a rich source of confusion).
"He was pissed as by nine o'clock."
Powhiri
The Maori welcome ceremony onto a marae. Formal, moving, essential.
"The powhiri welcomed the visitors on."
Primo
First-rate, excellent, the best.
"How's the new flat?" "Primo."
Puku
Belly or stomach, from te reo. 'Sore puku' or 'full puku'.
"Ate too much, sore puku."
Pull the pin
To quit, cancel, or call it off. 'We pulled the pin on the trip.'
"Weather's munted, let's pull the pin."
Rack
A slab/case of beer, especially a rack of cans. 'Chuck a rack in the chilly bin.'
"Got a rack of Export for the weekend."
Rark up
To tell someone off, or to fire someone up. 'The coach rarked them up.'
"Boss rarked us up over the mess."
Rattle your dags
Hurry up, get moving. 'Dags' are the mucky wool clumps on a sheep's rear - a running sheep rattles them.
"Rattle your dags, we're late!"
Raxed
Stolen, nicked. Also 'rax' — to steal.
"Someone raxed my lunch from the work fridge."
Reckon
Think, or believe. On its own, an enthusiastic agreement: 'I reckon!'
"Bro I have my date with Jenny tonight at the beach, do you reckon it'll rain?"
Red bands
Red-banded gumboots - the definitive NZ farm footwear brand-turned-noun.
"Pull your red bands on, paddock's a swamp."
Rewena
Maori sourdough bread made with a fermented potato starter. Dense, tangy, treasured.
"Fresh rewena with butter, unreal."
Rip in
Get stuck in, go hard, commit fully. 'Rip in the boys.'
"Food's ready, rip in!"
Rotovegas
Rotorua - jokingly glammed up as a 'Vegas'. Also nods to the sulphur smell.
"Weekend in Rotovegas, luge and hot pools."
Round the traps
Out and about, here and there - 'seen him round the traps'. Vague social geography.
"Heard it round the traps."
RTD
Ready-to-drink premixed spirits - the sugary cans of youth. 'On the RTDs.'
"The kids are on the RTDs at the park."
Rugby head
Someone obsessed with rugby - lives and breathes the game.
"He's a rugby head, knows every stat."
Sad case
A pitiable person or situation. 'What a sad case.'
"He's a bit of a sad case lately."