Twink
Correction fluid (white-out). A brand name that became the word — and a guaranteed laugh with American visitors.
"Pass the twink, I stuffed up the form."
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Two-minute noodles
Instant noodles - the fuel of students and flats nationwide. A food group in Dunedin.
"Two-minute noodles again, payday's Friday."
Uce
Term of address from 'uso', Samoan for brother. Used widely across Pasifika NZ and beyond - warm, tight, brotherly.
"Chur uce, appreciate you."
Unko
Uncle, in the Pasifika sense - any respected older man. From the Japanese/Hawaiian-influenced Pacific usage.
"Unko's cooking the hangi."
Up the Coast
Depending where you are, the Kapiti Coast, the East Coast, or the West Coast - always somewhere relaxed.
"Spending the long weekend up the Coast."
Up the guts
Straight through the middle - rugby, or any direct approach. 'Take it up the guts.'
"Just run it up the guts, forwards."
Up the Wahs
Rallying cry for the NZ Warriors - a phenomenon of hope-against-experience fandom.
"Up the Wahs! Finals here we come."
Ute
A utility vehicle — pickup truck with a flat tray. Rural NZ's chariot.
"Chuck the dog on the back of the ute."
Ute muster
A gathering of utes and their owners - rural NZ social event and identity parade.
"Ute muster this weekend, hundreds turning up."
Vogel's
The dense grainy toast bread that divides the nation. A NZ breakfast institution.
"Vogel's toast with marmite, breakfast of champions."
Wag
To skip school. 'Wagging' is the activity; detention is the sequel.
"They wagged fifth period to go to the beach."
Wairua
Spirit or soul, from te reo. 'The wairua of the place.'
"There's a special wairua at the marae."
Wally
A harmless fool. 'Don't be a wally.'
"Some wally left the gate open."
Wanna hiding?
A threat: do you want a beating? Between mates it's banter; from a stranger, it's time to gap it.
"Oi, you wanna hiding?!"
Warriors
The NZ Warriors - the rugby league team that breaks and mends Kiwi hearts annually. 'Up the Wahs.'
"Warriors are actually winning, don't jinx it."
Watties
The NZ food brand so dominant its name means tomato sauce itself. 'Pass the Watties.'
"Pie needs Watties, obviously."
Wellywood
Wellington - a play on Hollywood, thanks to the film industry.
"Down in Wellywood for the film festival."
Westie
Someone from West Auckland, stereotyped as a mullet-and-Holden bogan. Worn with pride out west.
"Full westie - black singlet, big dog, bigger ute."
Wet bus ticket
Something feeble or ineffectual - 'a telling-off like a wet bus ticket'.
"The fine was a wet bus ticket, honestly."
Whakapapa
Genealogy, ancestry, the lines that connect you - a foundational te reo concept.
"He traced his whakapapa back generations."