In New Zealand you may hear some different usages of English words and some unique words and phrases. Here are some of these:
Most are standard New Zealand English. Pronunciation is given as close as possible in Hungarian spelling to that of a cultivated speaker. Some words are questionable in formal settings. These are marked with a *.
There are also Maori words which are used commonly by English speakers. Pronunciation is given in official Maori although many New Zealanders (both Maori and Pākehā) say them with an English accent.
NB strictly the long vowels in Māori should have a macron - a line above them. But you will also see them without or with some other indicator.
There are also some Maori English phrases and a few examples of broad New Zild. Both of these are considered low class and uneducated but without them you might miss what people are saying.
| ACC | éí-szí-szí | National insurance scheme to treat accidents |
| ATM | éí-ti-em | Machine for getting cash from your bank account (common in NZ since early 1980s) |
| Barbie | bá-bi | Australian slang for BBQ |
| BBQ | bá-bi-ku | Barbeque - method of cooking in the open air. Traditionally sausages and meat patties. |
| Bottle Store | bat-tl sztor | A shop that sells only alcohol for drinking off premises. |
| Bring a Plate | breng a plét | Request for people to bring food to share to a party. |
| Bro | bróu | "Brother" - used for anyone the speaker feels connected to. |
| Business Days | besz-nesz déz | same as Working Days |
| BYO | bi-wái-óu | Bring Your Own - usually alcohol. In restaurants usually restricted to wine only. |
| Cheers | csersz | When drinking: Good Health Otherwise: Thanks or Good Bye/See You. |
| Creek | krík | A (very) small river. |
| CV | szí-ví | Curriculum Vitae ie résumé or önéletrajz. Used to get jobs. |
| DoL | dí-óu-el | What was the Department of Labour - now replaced by by MBIE |
| doncha | dóncsá | informal New Zild for "don't you". For example: "doncha know?" = "Do you not know?" |
| EFTPOS | eft-pasz | Paying for goods directly from your bank account without using cash |
| Fish and Chips | fes end csepsz | Fried and battered fish with fried potatoes cut like fingers. Traditional cheap NZ/English food. |
| Fish'n'Chips | fes en csepsz | See Fish and Chips |
| Jandals | dzsen-delsz | Footwear usually made of rubber with no upper - only a strap between the toes. |
| kai | kai | food |
| kiwi | ki-wi | New Zealand nocturnal flightless bird
A New Zealander; something belonging to NZ eg "the Kiwi" is the NZ dollar. NB the brown furry fruit is never referred to as a "kiwi" in NZ - rather it is a "kiwifruit" (or occasionally a "Chinese gooseberry"). |
| kūmara | kú-ma-ra | sweet potato |
| Ladies a Plate | léí-dísz a plét | Same as Bring a Plate (old fashioned ie women were to bring food, men alcohol) |
| Māori | ma-o-ri | Original Polynesian settlers in NZ or their language (te reo) |
| MBIE | móu-bí | Ministry of Building, Innovation, and Employment - a government department that handles work, immigration and much more. |
| MoBI | móu-bí | see MBIE |
| New Zild | nú zéld | New Zealand English ... more information |
| NZ | en-zed | Abbreviation for "New Zealand" |
| NZer | nú zíel-en-dö | A person who lives in New Zealand |
| Pākehā | pá-ke-há | New Zealander of European descent |
| * Piss | pisz | Urine (húgy) |
| * Pissed | pisz-d | Drunk (American usage of "angry" or "annoyed" used in the phrase "pissed off") |
| Te Reo | te reo | The Language ie Māori |
| Tramping | trém-peng | Walking (often in the mountains) carrying your bedding, food and other supplies on your back. |
| Wee | wí | Small or little - used mostly in Southland and Otago (from Scots) |
| Working Days | wör-keng déz | days traditionally worked in an office or bank |
| Whare | fa-re | A Building. |
| Wharenui | fa-re nui | A meeting house (ie a big whare). |
