Chur box
Nickname for the chilly bin or a box of beers you're grateful for. Playful.
"Load the chur box in the boot."
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Chur bro merchant
Someone who says 'chur bro' constantly - a good-natured jab at the classic Kiwi.
"He's a full chur bro merchant, that fulla."
Chur for the kai
Thanks for the food - stacking 'chur' with the Maori word for food. Post-feed gratitude.
"Chur for the kai, Aunty."
Chur-bye
A quick warm sign-off blending 'chur' and 'bye'. Very texting-era NZ.
"All good, chur-bye."
Chur-cuz economy
The NZ favour system - mates helping mates for a box of beers or a feed. (Playful term.)
"Ran on the chur-cuz economy - no money changed hands."
Coasties
People from the West Coast of the South Island - hardy, independent, proudly remote.
"Coasties do things their own way."
Cobber
An old-fashioned word for mate or friend. Your grandad's 'bro'.
"G'day cobber, long time."
Cockie
A farmer, especially a cow cockie (dairy farmer). Old rural term of grudging respect.
"The cockie's up at 4am for milking."
Crack up
Extremely funny, or to laugh hard. 'That's crack up' is a complete review. 'Crack up as' is the highest comedy rating available in New Zealand.
"The wedding speech was crack up."
Cracker
Something excellent ('a cracker of a day') or a fool, depending on tone.
"What a cracker of a game!"
Crook
Sick, unwell. 'Feeling a bit crook' is the standard sickie phone call.
"Can't come in today, feeling crook."
Crook as a dog
Very sick. Vivid NZ illness phrase.
"Off work, crook as a dog."
Cuppa
A hot drink, usually tea or coffee, always an invitation to sit down and yarn.
"Come in for a cuppa."
Cuppa and a yarn
A cup of tea and a good chat - the basic unit of NZ friendship.
"Come over for a cuppa and a yarn."
Cuppa tea sorted
Everything's fine now - because in NZ a cup of tea genuinely fixes most things.
"Sat him down, cuppa tea, sorted."
Custard square
A bakery slab of custard between pastry, iced on top. NZ afternoon-tea royalty.
"One custard square, don't judge me."
Cut a track
To leave, head off.
"Right, I'm cutting a track. See ya."
Cuz
Short for cousin, but rarely means an actual relative. A warm, casual way to address a friend or anyone at all. Longer form: cuzzy.
"Chur cuz, appreciate it."
Cuzzie bro
Warm compound of 'cousin' and 'bro' - a mate who's like whanau.
"Cheers cuzzie bro, you're the best."
Cuzzy nuts
Playful extension of cuzzy - mates, the crew. 'The cuzzy nuts are coming round.'
"Whole crew of cuzzy nuts turned up."