The Naki coast
Taranaki's surf coast - Surf Highway 45 and its legendary breaks.
"Chasing waves on the Naki coast."
The dictionary · best-rated first · page 20 of 22
The Tron
Hamilton. Affectionate-slash-ironic nickname (from 'Hamiltron').
"Studying down in the Tron."
The wops
The middle of nowhere; deep countryside. Full version: the wop wops.
"She lives way out in the wops."
Tiki tour
The scenic route — or a euphemism for getting lost. Any indirect journey.
"We took a tiki tour round the coast."
Tim Tam slam
Biting the ends off a Tim Tam and using it as a straw for a hot drink. A sacred ritual.
"Tim Tam slam with the hot chocolate."
Tip top
The NZ ice cream brand, and an all-purpose 'excellent'. 'Everything's tip top.'
"How's things?" "Tip top."
To the days
Suffix meaning 'extremely' or 'to the max'. Auckland high-school vintage.
"That guy's fit to the days."
Togs
Swimwear of any kind. Togs, togs, togs... undies (if you're too far from the beach).
"Grab your togs, we're going to the lake."
Togs undies
From the famous ad - the line where beachwear ('togs') becomes underwear ('undies') the further you get from the water.
"Togs, togs, togs... undies."
Too easy
No problem, consider it done. The relaxed Kiwi 'yes'.
"Can you grab milk?" "Too easy."
Townie
A city person, especially as seen by rural folk. Slightly soft, doesn't know one end of a cow from the other.
"Bunch of townies turned up in white sneakers to the farm."
Trackies
Tracksuit pants. NZ leisurewear and, controversially, acceptable public attire.
"Trackies and jandals to the dairy, no shame."
Trolley
A shopping cart. Some Kiwis say trundler, which is even better.
"Grab a trolley, big shop today."
True
Drawn out as 'truuue' — acknowledgement, agreement, or 'oh really'. Often 'ahh true?'
"Can't come, working late." "Ahh true."
Trundler
A shopping trolley, or a granny cart. Peak NZ vocabulary.
"Grab a trundler for the big shop."
Try-hard
Someone straining for status or coolness they haven't earned.
"Ignore him, he's a try-hard."
Tu meke
Maori for 'too much' — used to mean awesome, outstanding, overwhelming in a good way.
"Free tickets? Tu meke bro!"
Tui
A NZ beer, and by extension the 'Yeah right' billboard humour it made famous.
"Cold Tui on a hot day, chur."
tunning
flirting
bro can you stop tunning all the girls in my class
Tutu
To fiddle or meddle with something you probably shouldn't. 'Stop tutu-ing with it.'
"Don't tutu with the settings, you'll break it."