30 Kiwi Slang Terms You Need to Know
Kiwi slang is playful, quirky and everywhere, so learning a few NZ expressions like “chur”, “sweet as” and “jandals” makes travel slang NZ feel much less confusing and a lot more fun. This guide walks you through 30 common Kiwi slang terms, how locals actually use them and where you might hear them on a New Zealand road trip with your RaD Car Hire rental.
How to use this mini Kiwi dictionary
You do not need to sound like a local on day one, but recognising a few key bits of NZ lingo will help you follow jokes at the café, understand your rafting guide and decode that strange question about your “togs”. As you journey around the country, you will find that Kiwi English is a distinct dialect with plenty of slang and Māori words woven through everyday speech.
Below are 30 Kiwi slang terms that visitors bump into all the time, organised with simple meanings and real travel examples.
Everyday Kiwi slang you will hear everywhere
1. Chur – thanks/awesome
A very Kiwi way to say “thanks”, “nice one” or “cheers”.
- When to use it: The RaD staff member hands over your keys and you say “Chur!” as you head for the car park.
2. Sweet as – no worries/all good
One of the most famous NZ expressions; it means “no problem”, “sounds good” or “great”. The “as” does not need a word after it.
- When it might be used: You ask at your motel if you can check in an hour early and they reply, “Sweet as, no worries.”
3. Keen – interested/up for it
If someone says they are “keen”, they are genuinely interested, not just being polite.
- When to use it: Your friend suggests a sunrise hike and you say “Yeah, I am keen if there is coffee afterwards.”
4. Cuzzie / cuz – cousin or close mate
Used for cousins and close friends; similar to “bro” or “mate”.
- When you might hear it: Your rafting guide points to another staff member and says “That’s my cuzzie, he will look after you on the river.”
5. Bro – friend/buddy
Short for “brother”, used very widely between friends of all genders.
- Where you might hear it: At a food truck, the cook calls out “Cheers bro, your fish and chips are ready.”
6. She’ll be right – it will be okay
A classic optimistic NZ expression meaning “It will be fine in the end”.
- Who might use it: You worry about a bit of drizzle on your Tongariro hike and a local says “Chuck on a jacket, she’ll be right.”
7. Hard yakka – hard work
Borrowed from Australian English but common here; used for tough physical or mental work.
- Where you might hear it: After a long day tramping, your hut mate says “That last uphill was hard yakka, eh.”
8. Yea‑nah / nah‑yea – polite disagreement or reluctant agreement
“Yeah nah” usually means “I hear you but no”, while “nah yeah” leans towards “actually yes”.
- When to use it: Your friend suggests a mid-winter swim, and you answer “Yeah nah, I will watch from the sand.”
9. Mean – really good/impressive
“Mean” in Kiwi slang is positive; something awesome.
- When to use it: After your first bungy in Queenstown, you say “That was mean!” and everyone nods in agreement.
10. Choice – excellent/cool
Another positive word for something you like.
- How to use it: A barista brings you a perfect flat white and you say “Choice, thanks.”
Food, drink and daily life slang
11. Dairy – corner shop/convenience store
A “dairy” is a small neighbourhood shop that sells milk, snacks and basics.
- Where you might hear it: Your hostel mate says “I will nip to the dairy for some chippies, you want anything?”
12. Chippies – potato chips
“Chips” are usually hot fries; “chippies” are the crisps in a bag.
- Where you might hear it: On a road trip someone offers “Chippies?” and hands you a bag of salt and vinegar crisps.
13. Bach (North Island) / crib (South Island) – holiday home
A simple holiday house near the beach or lake.
- Where you might hear it: Your host tells you, “We are heading to the bach in Matakana this weekend for a tiki tour.”
14. Togs – swimsuit
New Zealanders rarely say “swimsuit”; they say “togs” for any swimwear.
- Who might use it: At check in your guide reminds you “Bring your togs tomorrow if you want to soak in the hot pools.”
15. Jandals – flip flops
“Kiwis love jandals” according to several travel slang guides; they are worn everywhere.
- Who uses it: You see people in Queenstown wearing puffer jackets and jandals at the supermarket and realise you have truly arrived in NZ.
16. Kai – food (from te reo Māori)
Used widely in English conversations as well.
- Where you might hear it: Your Rotorua host says “We will sort some kai after the cultural performance.”
17. Wop‑wops – the middle of nowhere
A remote area far from towns.
- Where you might hear it: A RaD team member warns “There is no fuel in the wop‑wops past Te Anau, fill up before you go.”
18. Chocka – full/crowded
Means “packed” or “overflowing”.
- How to use it: You check a popular hot pool on Saturday afternoon and say “Nah, it is chocka, let us come back later.”
Road trip and travel slang NZ visitors will hear
19. Tiki tour – scenic detour/taking the long way
Originally used for coach tours, now means taking the scenic route or a meandering drive.
- Where you might hear it: A RaD staffer in Queenstown grins and says “Take a tiki tour via Glenorchy; the lake views are epic.”
20. Tramping – hiking
New Zealanders “go tramping” rather than hiking.
- Who might use it: Your Te Anau host says “Tomorrow we are tramping a bit of the Kepler Track if the weather holds.”
21. Ute – pickup truck
Very common in rural areas.
- Where you might see one: You pull into a country café car park full of utes and know the pies will probably be good.
22. WOF – Warrant of Fitness (vehicle safety check)
You may see this on paperwork or stickers; your rental company manages it, but it is good to recognise.
- Where you might hear it: Your RaD contract reassures you that the car has a current WOF and rego, so you just focus on the drive.
23. Ta – thanks
Short, casual “thank you”.
- Who might use it: You hold a door open for someone and they say “Ta!” without breaking stride.
24. Flat white – coffee style
Not slang exactly but a very Kiwi drink; similar to a latte with less foam.
- Where you might hear it: The barista asks “Flat white?” as soon as you walk in, because every second person orders one.
People, feelings and classic Kiwi attitude
25. Carked it – broke/died (for things or sometimes pets)
Used jokingly for objects that stopped working.
- When you can use it: Your travel adapter gives up, and you sigh, “My charger carked it, time for a new one.”
26. Gutted – very disappointed
Stronger than just “sad”.
- Where you might hear it: Your Milford cruise is cancelled for weather, and the receptionist says, “You must be gutted, but safety first.”
27. Stoked – very pleased / excited
Common positive reaction.
- When you should use it: After finally seeing dolphins on a Bay of Islands tour, you tell the skipper, “I am so stoked right now.”
28. No worries – it is fine
Used constantly, often instead of “you are welcome”.
- When you might hear it: You apologise for asking a million road trip questions at the RaD counter and hear “No worries, that is what we are here for.”
29. Eh – conversational tag
Popped on the end of a sentence to seek agreement.
- When you might hear it: Your guide says “Pretty stunning view, eh?” and you absolutely agree.
30. Kiwi – New Zealander (and the bird/fruit)
Context matters; “Kiwi” usually means a local person, the national bird or kiwi fruit.
- When you might hear it: A local jokes “We Kiwis do not actually eat kiwi, only kiwifruit.”
How this Kiwi lingo shows up on the road
On a typical RaD road trip you might hear something like:
“Chur for booking with us, bro. The car is all good, WOF and rego sorted. If you’re keen for a tiki tour, head north to our mate’s bach near Matakana, pack your togs and jandals because the beach is choice. The road is a bit wop‑wops out there but she’ll be right if you take it easy, eh.”
Once you get used to the rhythm, Kiwi slang becomes part of the fun of travelling here; it is less about memorising a textbook list and more about smiling when you recognise a new phrase on the road.
FAQ - Kiwi slang for travellers
Do I need to use Kiwi slang, or is it enough just to understand it?
Understanding Kiwi slang is the main thing. Many visitors simply listen and pick up common expressions over time. Locals are usually delighted if you try a few words like “chur” or “sweet as”, but you never have to force it.
Is Kiwi slang very different from Australian slang?
There is overlap, but New Zealand has its own distinct NZ expressions, especially those borrowed from te reo Māori and unique local culture, such as “kai”, “whānau”, “togs” and “jandals”. Aussies generally understand a lot of Kiwi slang, but not all of it.
Where am I most likely to hear lots of NZ lingo?
You will hear the richest slang in informal settings; road trip radio, hostel lounges, sports games, pubs, small town cafés and on tours with Kiwi guides. City business districts tend to sound a little more neutral, but slang still pops up.
How can I quickly get comfortable with NZ lingo before I arrive?
You’ve made a great start by landing on this blog post. There are lots of other helpful resources online and plenty of YouTube videos where you can hear some of the slang words above spoken by Kiwis to get not only a sense of the terms, but also the way they are pronounced.