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You will meet many New Zealanders who will use words and terms that are not considered standard English. This is New Zealand or Kiwi slang. Some slang is unique to New Zealand and some has been adopted or modified from slang used in other English speaking countries.
Across the ditch = across the Tasman Sea to Australia
Aussie = Australian
Away laughing = to do without problems
Away with the fairies = day dream, on another planet
A few logs short of a barbie = a bit crazy
Banger = sausage
Barbie = BBQ
Basin = bathroom sink
Bassinet = baby cradle
Bach = small holiday house
Bench = kitchen counter
Big bikkies = lots of money
Bikie = member of motorbike gang
Bloke = ordinary guy/man
Bludge = take unfair advantage
Bob each way = supporting both opposing sides
Bob's your uncle = that's all there is to it
Bollocks = disbelief
Bush = forest or scrub land
Bush shirt = woollen outdoors' shirt
Capping = university graduation ceremony
Cardie = cardigan
Chilly bin = portable insulated cooler box
Chips = crisps
Chippy = carpenter
Choice = excellent
Chook = chicken
Chunder = vomit
Cow-cocky = dairy farmer
College = high school
Cop-out = poor excuse
Creek = stream
Crib = a small holiday home in the South Island, bach
Crook = sick, unwell / criminal
Dairy = small shop selling dairy products, confectionery, food etc.
Dag = someone who is funny
Daylight robbery = overpriced
Dear = expensive
Dunny = toilet
Fence sitter = person who is undecided
Flat = apartment
Flatmate = someone sharing a flat
Flat out = full speed
Flat stick = full speed
Flatty = tyre puncture
Freezing works = meat processing factory
Gidday = hello
Good nick = good condition
Gone bush = go somewhere without being found
Greasies = takeaway food (fish and chips)
Gross = horrible, scungy, lousy
Grouse = good, excellent
Hard case = funny, unusual, a dag
Heaps = lots of
Hire = rent
Hit the sack = go to bed
Hokey-pokey = pieces of golden sugar candy
Honky dory = everything is fine
Ice block = frozen confectionery on a stick
Jandals = thongs/flip-flop footwear
Joker = man or guy
Jumper = sweater
Kai = food
Kia ora = Maori greeting
Kindy = kindergarten
Kip = a short sleep, nap
Kiwi = a New Zealander, flightless bird
Local rag = local newspaper
Lolly = confectionery to be sucked
Loo = toilet
Lounge = living room
Lousy = horrible, scungy, gross
Mate = friend
Mates rates = special (reduced) price for selling product or service to friends
Morning tea = short break from work mid-morning
Mr Whippy = van that sells ice cream cones
Nana = grandmother
Narna = banana
Nap = a short sleep, kip
Nick = steal
No sweat = not a problem, easy
No worries = not a problem, easy
Oi = call to attention
Oz = Australia
Paddock = field
Pakeha = person of European descent
Panelbeater = car body repair shop
Pants = trousers
Pavlova/Pav = A meringue cake covered in cream and decorated with seasonal fresh fruit.
Pictures = movies
Pikelet = small pancake
Plonk = cheap wine
Pong = bad smell
Prang = accident caused by hitting something
Premo = good, excellent, choice
Pudding = dessert course of a meal
Ring = make call on telephone
Ripped off = cheated
Rubber = eraser, vehicle tyres
Rubbish = nonsense
Sandshoes = canvas sneaker footwear
Scungy = grungy, horrible, lousy, gross
Section = plot of land
Serviette = table napkin
Shank's pony = walking
She'll be right = it will be OK
Sheila = woman (Australian expression)
Singlet = vest
Sitting on the fence = can't make up your mind
Skivvy = shirt with polo neck
Smoko = short break from work
Snarler = sausage
State house = rental house owned by government
Sussed out = understood
Swimming togs = swim suit
Togs = swim suit
Takeaways = food eaten off premises (take-out food)
Ta = thanks
Tangi = funeral ceremony
Tata = goodbye
Tea = dinner
Teatime = dinner time
Tin foil = aluminium foil
Tip = garbage dump
Trolley = shopping cart
Truckie = truck driver
Uni = university
Up the creek = in a wrong direction
Ute = pickup truck
Varsity = university
Verge = grass strip at side of road
Wally = someone who has done something stupid
Wharfie = cargo handler for shipping (stevedore)
Whinge = moan, complain
Wops = rural areas
Wop wops = rural areas
Whanau = family
Wuss = timid
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