Here is a common question: ‘Why do New Zealanders and Australians sound so similar when they are separated by a sea that takes three hours to fly over?’ The answer is straightforward. The first English-speaking settlers of New Zealand were Australian seal-hunters from the penal colony of Port Jackson (Sydney). Later settlers were mainly British. The New Zealand accent grew from an Australian foundation spiced, with inputs from the different regional accents of the British Isles – English, Scots, Welsh and Irish.
There is a tendency in New Zealand English to shorten the long ‘e’ sound found in beg, said and leg, into a short ‘ee’ sound of the type found in seek, leak or peak. So when a New Zealander tells you to do something ‘ageen’, you know they want you to do it ‘again’.
A true clincher to decide whether you are listening to an Australian or New Zealander lies in the pronunciation of the letter “i” in the famous fish and chips test. If your companion likes eating “feesh and cheeps,” he or she is Australian. If, on the other hand, they prefer “fush and chups,” you are undoubtedly hearing a New Zealander.
| Term /Expression: | Meaning: |
|---|---|
| A feed | A meal |
| All good | This basically means ‘everything’s fine’ or ‘no problem’, |
| Angus | Someone with an anger problem |
| As | Commonly use “as” as an amplifier to the preceding adjective. For example, “cheap as” = "really cheap" |
| Aye | It has many different uses so you will need to listen carefully to know meaning in each particular situation. |
| Bro | Use it in place of ‘man’ or ‘mate’ or ‘dude’. It can be used towards anyone. |
| Buggered | Very tired |
| Can’t be bothered | Used when someone is too lazy or just simply doesn’t feel like doing something. |
| Chilly bin | A cooler bin, used for keeping drinks cold. |
| Chocka Block | Crowded/busy |
| Choice | Simply means “good” or “cool” and is used similarly to “sweet as”. |
| Chur | Generally used in place of “cheers” or “thank you”, but in some situations can also mean “OK” or “No problem”. |
| Cuppa | A hot drink, usually short for “cup of coffee” or “cup of tea” |
| Cuz | While technically short for “cousin” this is mostly used as a term of friendship or to casually address someone |
| Dairy | A convenience store, corner store, or mini supermarket. |
| Faa | Considered as shortened version of “far out”, express both excitement and disappointment. |
| Fizzy drink | Soda |
| Gap it | Can simply mean “to leave” or can also mean to “run away”. |
| Gizza | Short for “Give us a”, which actually means “Give me a” |
| Hardout | Has many translations, it can amplify an adjective, shows something is awesome or amazing |
| Heaps | Means ‘a lot’ or ‘very’. |
| Honest to who? | Loosely translates to “Really?” Often the response will be “Honest to G”, which means Honest to God. |
| Hot chips | French fries |
| Hungus | Someone who eats too much |
| Jandals | Flip flops. e.g. Havaianas |
| Jumper | A jersey or sweatshirt |
| Kai | Maori word for food |
| Kiwi | Can refer to either a New Zealander, or the country’s national bird. |
| Macca’s | McDonald’s |
| Mean | An adjective to describe something as really amazing or awesome. |
| Mince | Ground beef |
| Mint | Loosely translates to “cool”, or “awesome”. |
| Not even | Loosely translates to “No way” or “That’s not true”, but can be used in various different contexts. |
| Ow | This can be combined with “Not even” and is used somewhat like an exclamation mark. |
| Reckon | It is a synonym for the word “think”, for example instead of saying “I think so” you could say “I reckon”. |
| Scull | To drink a usually alcoholic drink in one go without stopping. |
| Shot | Has various meaning like, expressing thanks, expressing joy, or to give encouragement. |
| Shout | This is the Kiwi form of the verb ‘to treat’, such as treating someone to a meal or a drink. |
| Suss | Has 2 different meanings, 1- To take care of a task. 2- To describe something suspicious. |
| Sweet as | Means ‘no problem’, or sometimes can just mean a simple “OK”. |
| The wops | Really far away, the middle of nowhere. e.g. She lives out in the wops. |
| To the days | This is pinned to the end of a word or phrase, and means ‘extremely’ or ‘very’. |
| Togs | Swimsuit |
| What a sad guy | This is said when someone does something super uncool. |
| Yeah nah bro | Basically means “Umm” or can just be used to fill space, can be used to start a convo if nothing else to say |
What do the experts say?
The food in New Zealand is incredible, and New Zealanders are rightly proud of their paddock to plate cuisine. Almost everything is sustainably grown and processed, from lamb and seafood to vegetables and fruit.
About 20 percent of New Zealand is made up of National Parks, Forests, and Nature Reserves. And they’re all free to enter!
The Māori cultural experiences and performances offered throughout the North and South Islands are well worth seeking out. If the opportunity presents itself, definitely take part in a hāngī
Looking for a great restaurant in New Zealand? Try The Bunker in Queenstown, Plato in Dunedin, Manu in Christchurch, and Oppies Fish & Chips in Rotorua
All Blacks rugby is huge in New Zealand. If you’re a sports fan, be sure to check out a home game. The All Blacks typically play their home test matches during the months of July, August, September and sometimes October
Unlock more by subscribing to our newsletter.
With our newsletter, you’ll get access to regular communications that inspire you and help you explore the world your way.Exclusive Savings
Insider Benefits
Trending Stories
ExcellentBased on 5,343 ReviewsWe had a great 3 week trip to India!
It was wonderful and very well planned! Goway had obviously visited each hotel, attraction, and even each rest stop along the way. Everywhere we went we had Goway representatives, local tour guides, and a dedicated driver. We were very well taken care of and it was an amazing experience!
Thank you Harpreet!Nathanael ButlerBrooke from Goway Travel was really great to work with. There was 12 of us travelling and we weren’t all travelling on the exact same itinerary. Brooke worked hard to keep us all organized. She facilitated all the bookings and flights for an African safari and further travel for some after that. The safari out of Nairobi was excellent. Would definitely use Goway Travel and Brooke again. Karen GGoway Travel is one of the best travel companies that my family have used to book a vacation. We worked with Leo Li, a travel agent at Goway to plan a 12 day tour to China called Scenic China: Mountain, Rivers, and Rice Terraces in October, 2026. From the start, the communication was clear and helpful. Leo listened to what we wanted and added a day before the start of the tour and a day at the end of the tour which was requested, booked great hotels, and took the stress completely out of booking flights and transfers.
When an order for tea that was purchased during the tour and not delivered as scheduled, Leo contacted the tea company to insure that the tea order had been shipped.
An entire detailed itinerary was sent to me giving the dates and activity of each day, when and where the local guides were to meet us at each location whether at an airport, train station, or hotel . Goway provided me with a customer helpline to call for guidance, help coordinating services, or urgent assistance.
Leo did an outstanding job of putting together a memorable tour and we would happily recommend Goway to anyone looking for a seamless vacation.Howard TI will always use GoWay when I travel. And especially use my agent Bijal Kana. You never feel unsafe and your transfers and itinerary are amazing. This is my second trip with Goway, having gone to Egypt with them and having an amazing experience. I’ve now traveled to China and also had an amazing experience. The only thing I would improve is that some of the quality of the restaurants were less than I would have expected, sometimes feeling like you’re in a fast food restaurant ..I’m not sure if that’s controlled by go away or the local tour managers. But as far as driving and transportation in the itinerary, it was perfectly planned. The hotels also were top-notch. The tour guides also guide you securely in airports and trains to make sure that you are safely placed in the right area. If i had anything to improve on, it would be the restaurant quality, I expected more of a four or five star restaurant experience, which I would say 75% of the time I felt like we were in a very nice restaurant. Which made me think it was up to our tour guide that chose the restaurants. There were a few times that was extremely disappointed on the location and the restaurant experience. But other times I felt like it was the best place in the world they could’ve chosen so I’m not sure. Please don’t take this as anything against go away. I would definitely use them every time I travel.
I wish I could directly submit a review on each tour guide in each location, which would be much more specific on how the experience went. Maybe in the future they will give a more in-depth survey on each tour guide that you interact with and their choices and their touring style. That being said I still give the trip a 95%. Marina PenderThis Kenya adventure was my second trip to Africa with Goway, and once again, my go-to Africa specialist, Alexandra Hale, worked her magic. She helped create a thoughtfully planned itinerary that included all the must-see highlights of Kenya, with the perfect blend of luxury and adventure.
Our custom journey took us from Nairobi to the Maasai Mara, on to Amboseli National Park at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro, and finally to the beautiful Kenyan coast along the Indian Ocean. Along the way, we stayed at outstanding accommodations, including the Tamarind Tree Hotel in Nairobi, the Mara Serena Safari Lodge, Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge, and the Baobab Beach Resort & Spa in Diani.
Every destination offered incredible experiences, but if I could change one thing, I would have added an extra day at the beach to enjoy the coast a little longer.
The in-destination support provided by the Sense of Africa team was exceptional. Their knowledgeable guides enhanced our experience at every stop and ensured everything ran smoothly throughout the trip.
One of my most memorable experiences was the hot-air-balloon safari over the Maasai Mara. Seeing wildlife from above at sunrise was truly breathtaking. The experience was made even more special with a freshly prepared champagne breakfast in the bush after landing.
This was another unforgettable African adventure, and I’m already looking forward to returning to the continent. When it’s time to plan my next trip, Goway will be my first call.ABanksExceptional Service from Leo Liu at Goway Travel
Our recent 16-day private journey through China was an extraordinary experience, thanks in large part to Leo Liu of Goway Travel, who worked closely with me to create a truly personalized itinerary.
What I appreciated most about Leo was his willingness to collaborate with me throughout the planning process. I had very specific ideas about the destinations, luxury accommodations, cultural experiences, and activities we wanted to include. Rather than simply offering a standard tour package, Leo listened carefully to my preferences, offered valuable suggestions, and worked patiently with me to refine every detail.
Our journey took us through Beijing, Shanghai, Xi’an, Guilin and Yangshuo, and Hong Kong. Each destination offered something special, from China’s magnificent historical landmarks to its vibrant modern cities and breathtaking countryside.
The accommodations were thoughtfully selected, including the Peninsula Beijing, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and the beautiful Sugar House in Yangshuo. We particularly enjoyed the unique experiences woven into our itinerary, including the spectacular Gong Yan performance in Shanghai and the scenic beauty of Yangshuo.
What made Leo exceptional was that he understood the kind of travel experience we wanted. He respected my input, welcomed my suggestions, and helped transform my ideas into a seamless and memorable journey. Planning a complex private trip requires considerable coordination, and his professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail were greatly appreciated.
Having traveled extensively, we value a travel advisor who does more than arrange hotels and transportation. We appreciate someone who genuinely collaborates with us to create meaningful experiences. Leo Liu delivered exactly that.
Thank you, Leo, for your dedication, patience, and excellent service. Our China adventure was filled with wonderful memories, and we look forward to planning many more journeys with you and Goway Travel.
Highly recommended for travelers seeking thoughtfully designed, personalized luxury travel experiences!SuzetteI’ve travelled with GoWay Travel for over ten trips abroad.(Australia, Japan, NewZealand, South Africa, Botswana, Kenya/Tanzania.)
Each itinerary was customized to fit my needs, suggestions given to improve the experiences, and the air transportation was arranged.
The consultants have been exemplary, with Brooke Theron being my skilful consultant for this my third trip to Botswana. She was patient, knew her destinations, listened to my wants and delivered an itinerary that was different from my two other trips to Botswana.
Since I now travel solo, I’m very conscious of security, planning, being met and transported from airports to destinations, very good accommodations with excellent food packages, and lots of activities.
This trip rates in the top three of my journeys with GoWay. Brooke booked me into the Kwando Reserve- Splash 3 days and Lebala camp 3 days and 2 days on the Chobe Princess cruise on the border of Botswana and Namibia. Kwando Safaris were excellent and the Chobe Princess was good but not quite what I had envisioned.
The whole trip was flawlessly detailed and executed. I was never left wondering what to do or where to go. GoWay’s partner in Botswana is Thompson Africa. They were very good.
WIth GoWay and their wonderful consultants you can’t go wrong. You are safe and well looked after. I highly recommend this travel company.521810 - Linda Ann Weich - AfricaI want to thank Taha for his outstanding knowledge on Ghana. It was so good to work with him on the planning and the process to Ghana. Everything was amazing, from the hotels, tour guide Leslie, restaurants, and the food. I would definitely recommend Taha to anyone wanting to travel with a group.
Best,
Lisa V HendersonLisa HendersonEarly 2026 I met Alice Teramoto at the Phoenix travel show. I asked her about a dive trip to the Great Barrier Reef. Thankfully I kept her card. About 7 months later I started planning the trip myself. I was overwhelmed after I got my airline tickets to and from Australia and organized a dive boat. Thankfully I found her card. I texted her with my dates and within two days she had a complete agenda to me. It was amazing. She had transport to and from airports, car rental, tours everywhere I was going. I was gone for 6 weeks and I was so happy with everything she planned. I haven't used a travel agent in the past but believe me I would us Goway Travel and Alice again. barbara coy
Everything was looked after and no stress for usJean Willoughby
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified
Verified