| AnswerPhone |
Telephone Answering machine or voice
mail. |
| ANZAC |
Australia And New Zealand Army Corps (Joint military
organisation.) |
| Aotearoa |
Maori name for New Zealand. Means,
"Land Of The Long White Cloud" |
| The Beehive |
Circular government office building next to Parliament,
in Wellington. |
| Bloke |
Man, guy, dude |
| Boot (of a car) |
Car Trunk |
| Car Park |
Parking Lot |
| Chemist |
Pharmacy |
| Chips |
French Fries (e.g. "Fish 'n'
Chips") |
| Chippies |
Potato Chips |
| College |
High school / Secondary school |
| Dairy |
Convenience store. |
| Dodgy |
Sleazy or worthy of suspicion. ("A
dodgy neighbourhood.") |
| Dummy |
Pacifier (for a baby) |
| Flat |
Rented accommodation, esp. apartment |
| Flatting |
Sharing a flat with roommates ("flat-mates") |
| Football |
Soccer |
| Footpath |
Sidewalk |
| Gidday |
Hello |
| Governor General |
The Queen's governmental representative |
| Hire (e.g. a car or appliance) |
Rent |
| Hire Purchase |
Arrangement for purchasing an item with periodic payments. |
| Hokey Pokey |
Ice cream flavour with lumps of butterscotch.
|
| Jandals |
Beach footwear - "thongs" or, "flip-flops." |
| Jersey |
Sweater |
| Jumper |
Sweater |
| Kia ora |
Hello or good day (Maori) |
| Kiwi |
The national bird. Also an affectionate nickname for
a human New Zealander. Not the fruit. |
| Kiwifruit |
Fuzzy brown fruit with green interior.
Known as a "kiwi" in American supermarket produce
departments |
| Knackered |
Physically exhausted, tired |
| Lemonade |
7Up / Sprite |
| Lift |
Elevator |
| Lolly |
Piece of hard candy |
| Lounge |
Living room in a house or flat. |
| Maori |
Pre-European inhabitants of New Zealand,
and their present-day descendants. Also the language of
these people. |
| Marae |
Maori meeting ground |
| Mate |
Friend |
| Minister (government) |
Head of a major department (e.g defence or agriculture) |
| Motorway |
Freeway / Highway |
| MP |
Member Of Parliament. Equivalent to U.S. Congressperson. |
| Nappy |
Diaper |
| Netball |
Team sport similar to basketball, primarily played by
women. |
| Note |
Paper currency, e.g. "A $5 note." |
| NZ |
Common abbreviation for New Zealand. Pronounced, "En-Zed." |
| O.E. |
Overseas Experience. An extended (e.g.
1-2 years) stay overseas, especially for young people.
Popular destinations are America, Canada, and the UK. |
| Pavement |
Sidewalk |
| Pavlova |
Meringue-type cake, often served with
mixed-fruit topping. |
| Pakeha |
Maori term for European settlers and their modern decedents.
Also, any non-Maori. |
| Papa |
Maori earth-goddess |
| Parliament |
Equivalent of US Congress, but with only one house.
Also the building in which they meet (located in Wellington.) |
| Payment Advice |
Bill or invoice to be paid. |
| Petrol |
Gasoline |
| Post Shop |
Post Office |
| Pram |
Stroller or carriage (for infants)
|
| Prime Minister (PM) |
Roughly equivalent to U.S. President.
|
| Queue |
A line (e.g. at a bank or a supermarket.) Pronounced,
"cue" |
| Rangi |
Maori sky-god |
| Ring (verb) |
To call someone on the telephone (e.g. to ring someone
up.) |
| Rubbish |
Garbage |
| Rugby |
Very popular sport (somewhat like American football.) |
| Southern Cross |
Star constellation. Only visible in
the southern hemisphere. Represented on the NZ flag. |
| Ta |
Casual term for, "Thank you." (e.g. a bus
driver when you show your pass.) |
| Te Papa |
National museum, located in Wellington.
Means, "Our Place" |
| The Queen |
The Queen Of England, who is also the Queen Of New Zealand.
Appears on the $20 note and on all coins. |
| Abel Tasman |
Dutch explorer and first European
to reach New Zealand |
| Tomato sauce |
Ketchup / Catsup |
| Treaty Of Waitangi |
1840 Peace agreement between British
settlers and Maori natives. |
| Vegemite |
Yeast extract spread. Popular on toast (use sparingly!) |
| Whanau |
Family, esp. extended family. (Maori term)
|
| Whinge |
Whine / Complain excessively |
| Zed |
Z (last letter of the alphabet.) |
