Don't walk too close - a sign warning about local wildlife on the Banks Peninsula | Janet Oldham
Blog home / Don't let language be a barrier - learn the "Kiwi" way
There are so many aspects to travel – from planning, to getting there – making sure you pack the right gear, to reading advice and tips on things to see and do from those that have gone before. The one thing that can often go very wrong is language.
New Zealand’s main language is English, although you will often see Te Reo (Maori) incorporated into many places that you visit. Like anywhere in the world, what might mean something in one country, means a completely different thing in another eg: dairy.
Here are some little tips and useful phrases to get you started – and I am sure, provide some laughs and fun moments along the way.
Kia Ora (key-o-ra) – The first thing you see at the airport on arrival - Hello
Whanau (far-no) – Family
Wahine (wa-he-ney) Women
Tane (ta-ney) Man
Kai - food
Tapu - sacred, spiritual
Haere rā (high-reh-rah) – Goodbye
Dairy – a small shop selling milk, newspapers, ice-creams and other small necessities – not the cow/milk kind
Togs – swimsuit, bathers
Jandals – flipflops, thongs, sandals depending on which part of the world you come from
Tiki Tour – driving slowly or casually taking the scenic route
Wop wops or The wops – the middle of no-where, really far away
Bro – could be a friend or a brother – does not need to be related
Heaps – often used instead of “lots of” – heaps of
Sweet as – basically means ‘great’
Bach (batch) – a holiday house or summer house, popular in beach or out of town destinations
Crook – not feeling well, sick “I’m a little crook” – not the buglary kind
Feijoa – a native, green, New Zealand fruit, oval in shape with an acquired taste
Hokey Pokey – one of New Zealand much loved ice-cream flavours – very similar to honeycomb
Scroggin – heading out on a long walk or hike, you will want a bag of scroggin, a mix of nuts and fruits often called trail mix in other countries
Smoko – quite simply, morning tea. Originally referred to as a smoking and tea break, now just a coffee or tea with a snack break
Choice – means ‘cool’ or ‘great’
Lollies – any sweet that is not a lollipop or chocolate eg: gummy bears, Pineapple Lumps (another kiwi must have) etc
All good – another way to say never mind, it’s ok etc
Kiwi – New Zealander or native bird
Buggered – really tired
Jumper – a sweater, pull over – often made of wool or something else warm
Chocka Block – crowded or extremely busy
Not even – no way or not true
Ka kite ano – See you later
Hongi - a traditional Maori greeting where people press their noses together - not to be confused with Hangi
Hangi - a traditional New Zealand Māori method of cooking food using heated rocks buried in a pit oven, called an umu.