Greetings
Kia ora
KEE-ah OR-ah
Hello, thanks, and good health all at once. Used constantly by everyone, in te reo Māori and in English conversation alike.
Tēnā koe
teh-NAH kweh
A more formal hello to one person. 'Tēnā koutou' to three or more.
Haere mai
HIGH-reh my
Welcome / come in. You'll see it on signs at the airport before you see anything in English.
Daily life
Aotearoa
ah-oh-teh-ah-ROH-ah
New Zealand — 'land of the long white cloud'. Used interchangeably with the English name in official and everyday speech.
The dairy
DAIR-ee
The corner shop. Nothing to do with milk products specifically.
Tramping
TRAMP-ing
Hiking, and something close to a national pastime. 'Going for a tramp' is entirely innocent here.
Culture
Tangata whenua
TAH-nga-ta FEH-nua
'People of the land' — Māori as the indigenous people of Aotearoa. Understanding this term is the entry point to understanding the country.
Whānau
FAH-no
Extended family, beyond the household. Used in workplaces and government policy, not just at home.
Marae
MAH-rye
Māori communal meeting grounds. If you're invited onto one, go — and follow the lead of your host.
Food
Kai
kigh
Food. Fully absorbed into New Zealand English: 'let's get some kai'.
Social
Sweet as
sweet az
Great / no worries / that's fine. The 'as' is a full stop, not the start of a comparison.
Emergency
111
one-one-one
Emergency services — police, fire and ambulance. Not 911 or 999.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.