Dags
The mucky matted wool on a sheep's backside - and, oddly, a funny person ('what a dag').
"Crutching the dags off the ewes."
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Dairy
The corner shop. Sells milk, pies, lollies, and everything you forgot at the supermarket.
"Ducking to the dairy, want anything?"
Daylight robbery
Being grossly overcharged. 'Six bucks for a coffee? Daylight robbery.'
"Parking's daylight robbery in town."
Devon
The cheap processed luncheon meat in every school sandwich. Fried, it's a delicacy. Regionally 'luncheon' or 'fritz'.
"Devon and sauce sammie, childhood in a bite."
Dick
A fool or jerk - blunt, common, mild by NZ standards.
"Don't be a dick about it."
Dinky-di
Genuine, the real thing. 'Dinky-di Kiwi.'
"A dinky-di Kiwi bloke."
Dodgy
Suspicious, unreliable, or of questionable quality — a person, a kebab, or a knee.
"That car dealer seemed dodgy as."
Doing the mahi
Putting in the work - and its scripture-tier companion, 'do the mahi, get the treats'.
"She's been doing the mahi all season."
Dole
Unemployment benefit. 'On the dole.'
"On the dole between jobs."
Dork
A socially awkward or silly person - gentle.
"You dork, that's not how it works."
Doughboy
A dumpling in a boil-up - fluffy and filling. Sometimes 'doughboys'.
"Save me a doughboy from the boil-up."
Down south
Anywhere further south than the speaker, but especially Otago/Southland. Colder, further, hardier.
"Family's all down south."
Dropkick
A useless or hopeless person; a waste of space. More disappointed than angry.
"That dropkick forgot the tickets again."
Dunga
A beat-up old car that refuses to die.
"We took the dunga, didn't want to risk the good car at the beach."
Durries
Cigarettes.
"Going on a durry run."
E hoa
Maori for 'friend'. Also the likely origin of the exclamation 'ow'. If someone says it sharply, you might be in trouble.
"E hoa, come look at this."
Eftpos
The debit card payment system, and by extension the card itself. 'Eftpos or cash?' is the national question.
"Do you take eftpos?"
Egg
Gentle insult for someone acting like an idiot. More affectionate than aggressive.
"Stop being an egg and apologise."
Egg beater
Someone who stirs up trouble; a wind-up merchant. Also literally the kitchen tool.
"He's an egg beater, always stirring."
Egg on legs
An extended, sillier 'egg' - a total goose. Deploy fondly.
"You proper egg on legs."