New Zealanders are a unique bunch of people - a multicultural society of friendly, inventive, outgoing and welcoming people located a long way from the rest of the world.
They also have some unique sayings and phrases that may not make any sense to international newcomers.
If you are recruiting offshore talent to our little piece of paradise it might be worth sharing a few of these examples.
Yeah Nah. Although this non-committal statement doesn’t really make any sense you will hear it often. It is generally used in jest and basically means indecision or ‘probably not’. You will also hear ‘’Yeah right”, which when said in a sarcastic way, means ‘definitely not’.
Good as Gold. If you hear someone using this common phrase you know everything has gone well or everything is fine. It's an easy response to “How did it go?” or “I’m running 5 minutes late” - “Good as gold”
Snowed under. Despite evoking the image of being buried under an avalanche, in NZ this means something completely different. Kiwis use this slang for when they have more things, especially work, than they feel they can deal with. If you need to skip a work function because you are busy and feeling overwhelmed, use the phrase ‘snowed under’ and your colleagues will totally get you.
Tiki tour. Don’t be alarmed if a helpful local offers to take you on a tiki tour of your new town or city - it simply means going out for a drive to look around an area or place. It can also mean enjoying taking the long way or the scenic route to get to a destination, or even going on a journey with no actual destination in mind. The NZ Government once operated low-cost tours using this name and it has been used regularly by Kiwis ever since, even as the title of a television series.
Sus. This is essentially an abbreviation of suspect or suspicious, referring to something (or someone) untrustworthy. If you hear someone say “ The guy seemed sus’’ You should take it to mean ‘the guy’ can’t be trusted.
Chuffed. You can tell a colleague that you are chuffed to have closed a business deal and they will know exactly what you mean - you are quietly delighted and feeling rather proud. Probably not used as much as some other slang words but you will be sure to hear it at some stage.
Hard case. Chances are you will meet a few ‘hard cases’ during your time in NZ. This term of endearment describes someone who is a real character - someone who is witty and/or you find particularly amusing. Be assured Kiwis won’t take offense to being called a hard case if you meet someone who fits the criteria.
There will plenty of other phrases and slang words that will be new to the ears of your international recruits. If you would like to help them understand more about the origins of Kiwi culture, be sure to share this link to Te Ara, the Dictionary of New Zealand. You may even learn something yourself.
____________________
Mobile Relocation connects you with what you need to thrive in New Zealand. Contact us today to talk about how we can carry your relocation burden.
Mobile Relocation delivers resettlement and relocation programmes for businesses employing offshore talent.
Our goal is to get your expat and migrant talent up and running in NZ as quickly as possible - reducing their time to effectiveness in their new role, and enabling them to deliver their skills and expertise to your the benefit of your business.
Bridget is a New Zealander who has lived and worked as a diplomat in Singapore and India. After experiencing all facets of the relocation experience, she founded Mobile to work with private individuals moving to NZ and leading local and international businesses bringing in offshore talent. bridget@mobile-relocation.com
Ready to move to New Zealand? Get our FREE Move to NZ Checklist now.