ACC Accident Compensation Commission.

ANZAC Australian and New Zealand Army Corps; every town in New Zealand has a memorial to ANZAC casualties from both world wars.

Aotearoa Maori for New Zealand, the land of the long white cloud.

Ariki Supreme chief of an iwi.

Bach (pronounced "batch") Holiday home, originally a bachelor pad at work camps and now something of a Kiwi institution that can be anything from shack to palatial waterside residence.

Back-blocks Remote areas.

Biddy-bid A burr-bearing bush (from Maori piripiri ).

Blat Travel at great speed.

Bludger Someone who doesn't pull their weight or pay their way, a sponger.

Boomer Excellent.

Bro Brother, term of endearment widely used by Maori.

Captain Cooker Wild pig, probably descended from pigs released in the Marlborough Sounds on Cook's first voyage.

Chilly bin Insulated cool box for carrying picnic supplies and beer to the beach or cricket match.

Chook Chicken.

Choice Fantastic.

Chuddy Chewing gum, also "chutty".

Chunder Vomit.

Coaster (Ex-) resident of the West Coast of the South Island.

Cocky Farmer, comes in "Cow" and "Sheep" variants.

Crib South Island name for a bach.

Cuz or Cuzzy Short for cousin, see "bro".

Dag Wag or entertaining character.

Dairy Corner shop selling just about everything, open seven days and sometimes 24 hours.

Dally Semi-derogatory name for descendants of Dalmatian immigrants from the Balkans.

Dob in Reporting one's friends and neighbours to the police; there is currently a dobber's charter encouraging drivers to report one another for dangerous driving.

Docket Receipt.

Domain Grassy reserve, open to the public.

Fizz boat Small powerboat.

Flicks Cinema, movie theatre.

Flog Steal.

Footie Rugby, usually union rather than league, never soccer.

Freezing works Slaughter house.

Give it a burl Try it.

Godzone New Zealand, short for "God's own country".

Gorse in your pocket To be slow to pay your share.

Good as (gold) First rate, excellent.

Good on ya Expression of approbation or encouragement, frequently appended with "mate".

Greasies Takeaway food, especially fish and chips.

Greenstone A type of nephrite jade known in Maori as pounamu.

Haka Maori dance performed in threatening fashion before All Black rugby games.

Handle Large glass of beer.

Hangi Maori feast cooked in an earth oven .

Hapu Maori sub-tribal unit. Several make up an iwi.

Hard case See "dag".

Hard yacker Hard work.

Hollywood A faked or exaggerated sporting injury used to gain advantage.

Hongi Maori greeting, performed by pressing noses together.

Hoon Lout, yob or delinquent.

Hori Offensive word for a Maori.

Hui Maori gathering or conference.

Iwi Largest of Maori tribal groupings.

Jandals Ubiquitous Kiwi footwear, thongs or flip-flops.

Jug Litre of beer.

Kai Maori word for food, used in general parlance.

Kaimoana Seafood.

Karanga Call for visitors to come forward on a marae.

Kaumatua Maori elders, old people.

Kawa-Marae Etiquette or protocol on a marae.

Kete Traditional basket made of plaited flax that is seeing something of a resurgence in popularity.

Kiore Polynesian rat.

Koha Donation.

Kohanga Reo Pre-school Maori language immersion (literally "language nest").

Kumara Sweet potato.

Kuri Polynesian dog, now extinct.

Lay-by Practice of putting a deposit on goods until they can be fully paid for.

Log of wood Slang for the Ranfurly Shield, New Zealand rugby's greatest prize.

Mana Maori term indicating status, esteem, prestige or authority, and in wide use among all Kiwis.

Manaia Stylized bird or lizard forms used extensively in Maori carving.

Manchester Linen section of a department store and its contents.

Manuhiri Guest or visitor, particularly to a marae.

Maoritanga Maori culture and custom, the Maori way of doing things.

Marae Literally "courtyard" but much more. Place for conducting ceremonies in front of a meeting house. Also a general term for a settlement centred on the meeting house.

Mauri Life force or life principle.

Mere War club, usually of greenstone.

Metalled Graded road surface of loose stones found all over rural New Zealand.

MMP Mixed member proportional representation - New Zealand's new electoral system.

Moko Old form of tattooing on body and face that has seen a resurgence among Maori gang members.

Ngati Tribal prefix meaning the descendants or people of. Also Ngai and Ati.

No fear Expression indicating refusal or disagreement.

OE Overseas experience, usually a year spent abroad by Kiwis in their early twenties.

Pa Fortified village of yore, now usually an abandoned terraced hillside.

Paddock Field.

Pakeha A non-Maori, usually white and not usually expressed with derogatory intent. Literally "foreign" though it can also be translated as "flea" or "pest". It may also be a corruption of pakepakeha, which are mythical human-like beings with fair skins.

Pashing Kissing or snogging.

Patu Short fighting club

Paua Abalone, a type of shellfish with a wonderful iridescent shell.

Pavlova Meringue dessert with a fruit and cream topping.

Pike out To chicken out or give up.

Piss Beer.

Pissed Drunk.

Piss head Drunkard.

Plunkett rooms Childcare centre.

Poms Folk from Britain; not necessarily offensive.

Powhiri Traditional welcome onto a marae.

Puckerooed Broken. Derived from the Maori for broken, pakaru.

Puku Maori for stomach, often used as a term of endearment for someone amply endowed.

Queen Street farmer City businessman owning rural property.

Ranch slider Sliding glass door giving onto the garden or decking.

Rangatira General term for a Maori chief.

Rapt Well-pleased.

Rattle your dags Hurry up.

Root Vulgar term for sex.

Rooted To be very tired or beyond repair, as in "she's rooted mate" - your car is irreparable.

Rough as guts Uncouth, roughly made or operating badly, as in "she's running rough as guts, mate".

Scroggin Trail mix, essentially nuts and raisins.

Sealed road Bitumen-surfaced road.

Section Block of land usually surrounding a house.

She'll be right Everything will work out fine.

Shoot through To leave suddenly.

Shout To buy a round of drinks or generally to treat folk.

Skull To knock back beer quickly.

Slutted Greatly annoyed.

Smoko Tea break.

Snarler , snag Sausage.

Spinner A jerk.

Squiz A look, as in "Give us a squiz".

Station wagon Estate car.

Stoked Very pleased.

Taiaha Long-handled club.

Tall poppy Someone who excels. "Cutting down tall poppies" is to bring overachievers back to earth - every Kiwi's perceived duty.

Tane Man.

Tangata whenua The people of the land, local or original inhabitants.

Tangi Mourning or funeral.

Taniwha Fearsome water spirit of Maori legend.

Taonga Treasures, prized possessions.

Tapu Forbidden or taboo. Frequently refers to sacred land.

Te reo Maori Maori language.

Tiki Maori pendant depicting a distorted human figure.

Tiki tour Guided tour.

Togs Swimming costume.

Tohunga Maori priests, experts in Maoritanga.

Tukutuku Knotted latticework panels decorating the inside of a meeting house.

Tupuna Ancestors; of great spiritual importance to Maori.

Ute Car-sized pick-up truck, short for "utility".

Varsity University.

Wahine Woman.

Waiata Maori action songs.

Wairau Spirit.

Waratah Stake, a term used to describe snow poles on tramps.

Waka Maori canoe.

Wero Challenge before entering a marae.

Whakapapa Family tree or genealogical relationship.

Whanau Extended family group.

Whare Maori for a house.

Whare runanga Meeting house.

Whare whakairo Carved house.

Within cooee Within reach.

Wop-wops Remote areas.

Yahoo To be or act like a lout.