24 bits of Kiwi slang you need to know

About to touch down in the land of the long white cloud? Want to stay street-smart and fit in with the locals? Look no further than this guide to some of the most popular Kiwi slang terms! But first, here are a few disclaimers:

Kiwis are a wonderful bunch. We are friendly, easygoing, and happy to chat with a weary traveller like yourself. Whether or not our accent is sexy, I will leave to you, but it has been said to be difficult to understand to the untrained ear (and even to other Kiwis at times). Don’t be afraid to ask someone to slow down or speak a bit clearer; not all of us are so well-trained in the art of elocution. 

Some of these words are bound to cross over with Australian slang terms. As Trans-Tasman neighbours, we do have something of a cultural exchange going on. Aussies, don’t get offended, let’s not turn this into another Phar Lap or pavlova situation. 

As a final disclaimer, this is a mere introduction to an ever-evolving cultural phenomenon that captures a cross-section of the rich tapestry that is New Zealand society. I don’t have or know all the terms, think of this as the first volume in the greatest hits anthology. 

1. Chur

A term of endearment, Chur is an informal way of saying “thank you” or “all good”. You can also use it as a casual goodbye if you’re feeling extra brave. 

“Here is your order, sir. Have a good day.”

“Chur, see you later.”

2. Bro

Short for “Brother”, it’s a term most commonly used for addressing friends or anyone you’ve had a positive interaction with and are keen to express/affirm. That being said, bro can be used in a negative context and with some aggression behind it, but there should be other giveaways if that’s the case. 

“Thanks for paying for the fish and chips Bro, I really appreciate it.”

“Bro, don’t even mention it.”

3. Bloke

What is a Bloke? Good question. A Bloke is a term for a manly man, a practical man, a man who can tie his own shoelaces and knock together a shed in an afternoon. Heavily linked to DIY (do it yourself) culture and a stoic independence to juxtapose that of your soft, pampered city boy. It can be used in conjunction with a plethora of other terms, such as: 

“Far out, what a handsome Bloke.” 

“You built your own house with nothing but a hammer and chisel? What an intelligent Bloke you are.”

4. Surely

Generally used in agreement with somebody else’s statement. This can be as broad as agreeing to somebody forming plans, affirming a judgment call, or answering a question. It’s also often drawn out for dramatic effect. For example: 

“Bro, let’s hit the beach today; the weather is looking mean (amazing).” 

“Suuuuurely, I’ll bring my togs (trunks/bathing suit).”

5. She’ll be right

An absolute Kiwi classic, She’ll be right, simply means that everything will be ok in time. Often used to describe something imperfect but good enough not to fix. It’s either optimistic or apathetic, depending on how you choose to look at it! You could use it to describe the noise your car just started making, a fresh break-up, or the dinner you made with everything expired at the back of your pantry. 

6. Yeah, Nah

Arguably one of the more difficult pieces of Kiwi slang to wrap your noggin around, it is the penultimate pass-agg conversation filler. The “Yeah” means you hear and acknowledge what the other person is saying, whilst the “Nah” denotes a polite disagreement with what is being said. It doesn’t end there, either. You can add together any number of “Yeahs” and “Nahs” to respond to a statement, with the final word insinuating agreement or disagreement. It’s probably as confusing as anything to anyone hearing it for the first time.

“Bro, I really think my crypto portfolio is going to take off this year.” 

“Yeeeah Nah, I don’t know about that one mate.”

7. Tiki Tour

A Tiki Tour, quite simply, is taking the scenic route or the long way around, with the intention of enjoying the journey. The term originated in 1946 when the New Zealand Government introduced low-cost coach tours around Aotearoa and branded them as such. Whilst the coach tours are long gone, the term has stuck, even partially inspiring the naming of the one and only Contiki! 

8. No worries

Another age-old adage in NZ is the nonchalant and humble “No worries”. Don’t interpret it as dismissive; it merely means “Don’t worry about it” or “you’re welcome”. It means that if you ask for directions, bump into someone, or spill a drink, it isn’t a big deal or an inconvenience. 

9. Dairy

A true New Zealand institution, a dairy is what we call a convenience store – or bodega to the Americans out there. Invariably owner-operated and always a little bit run down, every kid had a favourite dairy growing up. You could buy lollies, hot chips, and ice cream with your pocket money while your parents picked up milk and eggs on a lazy Sunday morning. Sadly, as big corporate supermarket chains and petrol stations dominate, these diamonds in the rough are becoming less and less commonplace. 

10. Lollies

New Zealand slang for candy, lollies come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. At a dairy, you will often find them in the same kind of small clear plastic bags that drugs come in (apparently), filled with all manner of varieties (of Lollies, that is). Where the line gets blurred is at the introduction of chocolate. Personally, I would die before characterising something with chocolate in it as a lolly, but to each their own. A grey area exists with pineapple lumps and jaffas, but again, do what feels right to you. 

11. Chilly bin

What we call a cooler, icebox, or esky, and undoubtedly far more fun to say. Perfect for those hot summer beach days and barbeques, Chilly Bin is an essential part of your Kiwi vocabulary!

“Hey Nick, did you grab meat for the Barbie this arvo?”

“Nah, but there are beers in the Chilly Bin”

“Sweet as!”

12. Wops / Wop-Wops

Going out in the “wop-wops” means you’re going bush, remote, the middle of nowhere. Luckily for you, our sparsely populated little islands are full to the brim with wop-wops for you to explore! 

13. Yarn

If somebody asks you to spin a yarn with them, they aren’t asking you to knit. Spinning a yarn means to have a chat! It’s also used when somebody is lying or embellishing a story, usually with an expletive thrown in for good measure. 

14. Hard out

An enthusiastic way of agreeing with someone or agreeing to do something. Depending on its context and the words that preface or follow it, the expression morphs in meaning. Isn’t that the beauty of language? You can even drop the “out” and just say “Hard”; it’s really that versatile!

“Far, that’s hard out.” – That’s exceptional, my friend, well done.

“Yeah hard out, this kai is mean.” – This food is absolutely delicious. Thank you so much.

“Hard out, let’s go for a boys’ trip to the nail salon.” – I’m so excited to spend some quality time with my mates.

15. Squiz

It’s a bit of an odd one, I admit, but it merely means to “go check it out” or have a look at something. Usually associated with having a quick look as opposed to a thorough interrogation of something. 

“Yeah, I couldn’t see your wallet. Had a quick squiz though…sorry.”

“Hey man, can you have a squiz at my homework? I’m not sure about answer 11.”

16. Snag

The beauty of this word can’t fully be comprehended until you’ve walked home from a hot summer day at the beach, come in thirsty and famished, smelling of salt, sweat, and desperation. Your flatmate comes in from the backyard and yells, “Hey, come out the back, we’ve got beers and snags ready to go!” A snag is a sausage, but it’s also so much more. It encompasses the spirit of summer barbeques in a way not much else in this world can. Yes, you have sausages in winter, but they aren’t snags. Snags are a vibe, an atmosphere, an experience. And one worth having. 

17. Jandals

Another summertime staple, the humble jandal has clad the feet of many a Kiwi over the decades. They are what you might call a sandal or a thong in your corner of the world, but here, they are the glorious jandal. The term is exclusively limited to the rubberised slab with two prongs protruding from between your big toe and…index toe? Anyway, you know what I mean. A Birkenstock is still a sandal, as is anything with two straps. 

18. Tu Meke

Tu Meke is a slang term derived from the Māori word “Tumeke”, meaning “to startle or take fright”, and has morphed into “too much” or “too good”, usually – but not always – describing excitement or exclamation.

“How much did you have to drink on Friday?” 

“…Tu Meke”

19. Heaps

I admittedly did not realise this was a slang term until talking to a British friend about Kiwi idiosyncrasies. It turns out we say it… a lot. It’s used as you’d expect, to describe lots of something, just not in the most sophisticated manner. 

“I went scuba diving over the weekend, man there were heaps of fish.” 

“Bro, that’s heaps. I’m not sure I can eat that much.”

20. Budgie Smugglers

A funny one: Budgie Smugglers are a popular colloquial term (even spawning a dedicated brand!) for men’s swimming trunks cut like briefs and being… rather revealing. It takes a confident man to rock a pair of budgie smugglers at the beach, with your radius of appropriate wearing being incredibly small. There is a classic Kiwi ad known simply as “togs, togs, togs… undies,” demonstrating the risk you take with such a risqué outfit. You do you, though. 

21. Flattie

If you walk into a cafe and order a flattie, chances are they’ll know what you’re asking for. It’s a shortening of the Flat White, a coffee variety invented right here in New Zealand! Strong, bold flavours with a high ratio of espresso to frothed milk. A sophisticated drink for nothing but the best amongst us, but hey, maybe I’m biased. You can also use this term to describe your flatmate or housemate! 

“One small flattie, please!” 

“Yeah man, my Flattie is a barista. She makes the best flatties!” 

22. Missus

You’ll be a lucky man to find yourself with a Missus. Your better half, your paramour, your darling sweetheart. It’s a term used to describe your girlfriend or lover, usually in a positive manner. 

“Can’t come out this weekend, sorry fellas. The Missus has planned a weekend getaway.” 

23. Barbie

No, not the toy or the Greta Gerwig classic! A Barbie is what we like to call a Barbeque, whether it be gas, coal, or otherwise. Whether you’re into steaks and sausages, veggie skewers, or fresh pizzas, a Barbie is right for you. 

24. Aye or Eh

This is one you are bound to hear regularly during your time in Aotearoa. We tack it on to the end of a sentence, almost as something of a question mark, inviting approval or affirmation of what we have just said. I know, slightly confusing and far from the most eloquent sentence structure. It can also be used as a drawn-out response to something somebody else has said, almost as a passive-aggressive objection.

“Bro, that pie was mean aye?” 

“Aaaaye, yeah nah you’re lying! Attack of the Clones isn’t the best Star Wars movie.” 

“I can count on you to come and help me move flats this weekend, aye?”

I hope you found this to be an enlightening introduction to the weird, wonderful, and confusing world of Kiwi slang! You may have heard a few already, so don’t be shy; give some of these a go. Even if the context is wrong, it’ll likely still be met with a polite smile.