Kiwi Lingo (Local Slang)

Now in order to relate to the locals you will have to be able to communicate, here’s a few Kiwi terms to get you started...

eh – compulsory addition to the end of a rhetorical question “‘Cor, last night was bloody good eh”

ie – this is added to the end of shortened words eg; pressie, hottie, tantie, cuzzie

Dag – a piece of dried up sheep dung attached to the sheep’s bum (is also known as a hard case character)

Hard Case – Someone who has heaps of personality, may do unusual things but basically is a real laugh.

No Worries – No problem

Bro – friend (guy) or brother

Cuz – friend (guy or girl), cousin

Chur bro – cheers, thanks or that’s cool, my friend

Good on ya mate - Well done my friend,  catchprase for our favourite beer 'Speight's'!

She’ll be right mate – It’ll be OK

Nice one mate – Good job

Sweet as – as it’s ‘sweet as pie’ so it’s all good

Not even, ow – No, it’s not or that’s not true.

Ta – Thanks

True – Question as in ‘is it true?’ or ‘really?’ Answered back ‘true’ as ‘yes it is true’.

Ring – Phone or call

Togs – Swimsuit

Jandals – Flip-flops

Sunnies – Sunglasses

Suss – To figure out

Wop-wops – out in the back country (middle of nowhere)

Piker – Someone who backs out of doing something

Tiki Tour – to drive around taking the scenic route

Gawk – to stare

Pack a sad – To get upset and sulk

Loo - Toilet

Kia ora – Hello, Goodbye, Thank you.

Haere Mai – Welcome

Nau mai — Welcome

Haere Ra – Goodbye

Whanau – Family

Whare – House

Ai – Yes

Kau – No

Kai – Food

Kai moana – Seafood

Kia ora tatou — Hello everyone

Tena koe — Greetings to you (said to one person)

Tena koutou — Greeting to you all

Kei te pehea koe? — How’s it going?

Kei te pai — Good

Tino pai — Really good

Ka kite ano — Until I see you again (Bye)

Hei konei ra — See you later

Mana – respect, status earned through actions