Destination: New Zealand
Practical Matters New Zealand   Before You Go   When You Are There   Language   Offices to Serve You Abroad The common language of New Zealand is English. The written language follows British spelling convention, rather than American. There is little difference in pronunciation from one part of the country to another, except that in the South Island you may detect a Scottish accent. The Maori language is undergoing a revival; you will hear it spoken on a marae (the area surrounding a meeting house) and on some radio stations. Visitors may hear Maori spoken on the radio, used as a greeting (Kia Ora), and in place names. The language was entirely oral until early missionaries recorded it in written form. The easiest way to say Maori words is to pronounce each syllable phonetically. "Kiwi" English also tends to have its own idiosyncratic expressions or phrases.	LANGUAGE Common Maori Words and Phrases Ao cloud Aotearoa Land of the Long White Cloud Ara path Atua god Awa river Haere mai welcome Haera ra farewell Hangi a Maori feast Hau wind Hawaiiki legendary homeland of the Maori Kia ora your good health Kumara a sweet potato Makomako bellbird Ma stream Mana prestige Manu bird Maunga mountain Moana sea, or lake Moko tattoo Motu island, or anything that is isolated Pa fortified village Pakeha foreigner, white person, European Po night Puke hill Puna spring (of water) Rangi sky Roto lake Rua two, eg. Rotorua two lakes Tapu sacred Utu retribution Wai water Whanga bay, stretch of water, inlet Whare house Whenua land 'Kiwi' English Aussie Australian bach a holiday chalet in the North Island (pronounce 'batch') Beehive the main government building in Wellington bludge scrounge, borrow bush the forest chook chicken cocky farmer (usually cow-cocky) chilly-bin portable cooler box crib the South Island equivalent of a bach crook sick, ill dag a character, or entertaining person dairy general store gidday good day (hello) good as gold fine, OK handle beer glass with a handle jandals flip-flops, thongs judder bars speed bumps in the road morning tea mid-morning tea or coffee break mozzie mosquito Pakeha person of European descent Pom an English person (mildly derogatory) smoko tea or coffee break togs swimwear wopwops the back of beyond	COUNTRY New Zealand   Viewing   Top Ten   What To See   Where To ...   Practical Matters REGION CITIES MAPS World Europe TRAVEL BOOK Book Info Order Online