English is spoken throughout New Zealand, however there are many local acronyms and phrases that may confuse foreign visitors. Phrases in NZ tend to differ from those across the ditch (in Australia).
Entree - Entrees on the menu will not be the main course. Entrees are the appitizers, the main courses will be labeled "mains"
EFTPOS - Electronic Funds Transfer at Point Of Sale. It means that the business accepts debit and credit cards.
Hoon - A hooligan ( see a sign on the entrance to a billiards hall) although sometimes used to refer to the nature of people's driving.
Kiwi - Relating to New Zealand. The kiwi bird is the New Zealand mascot and anything that is kiwi is very New Zealand, be it people or customs.
Jersey- Sweater
Jumper: woollen sweater
Get off the grass: exclamation of disbelief; equivalent to "stop pulling my leg", "get outta here", and "no way"
Gumboots: rubber boots, wellingtons, wellies
Dag : hard case; joker; comedian, as in "Joe Blow's a bit of a dag isn't he?" "A bit of a dag mate! - He's the whole sheep's ar*e"
Lemonade : 7Up
L&P: fizzy soda water, Lemon & Paeroa (L&P); originally lemon flavoured spring water from the town of Paeroa, but this is no longer the case.
Metal Road : a country road (usually) with a gravel or shingle surface
Mains - The main courses on restaurant menus. The "entree" section will be appitizers.
Nappy : diaper
Take Away - Food picked up from a restaurant and taken home to be eaten. What Americans would call "take out".
Loopy - A Tourist. More common in South Island. Refers to tourists driving around the island in a 'loop' (circular direction). Please also ensure this does not also refer to the driving of tourists in New Zealand
Road Snail - A Camper Van (RV)
Rubber - An Eraser :)
Mainland - South Island (if refered to by a south island resident).
Coaster - Resident of West Coast, South Island.
Whanau (pronounced faa now) - Family, Relatives, Close friends. Those you rely on for support.
"See ya later" - common expression used when leaving. Does not imply any obligation to meet later.
JAFA- an Aucklander as in "just another friggin Aucklander" (Only replace "friggin" with "fabulous" if you live in Auckland); derived from the term jaffa, which is a popular chocolate-orange confectionary
Pakeha - Typically a European New Zealander
Bathroom - Place in the house etc where you will find a bath or shower, handbasin but particularly for N. Americans, a toilet is not necessarily present in this room
Toilet -The room in the house etc where you will find a toilet. If this is what you need, ask directly for a toilet, not for a bathroom.
Chillybin - An insulated portable bin known as an 'esky' in Australia or a 'cooler' in the United States.
Togs - A bathing or swim suit. Referred to as a 'cossie' in Australia
Jandals - A pair of rubber sandals also referrred to as 'thongs' in Australia (these are not an item of underwear!)