New Zealand English (NZE)

A variety of the English language that is used in New Zealand.

Though similar in many ways to Standard British English and Australian English, New Zealand English has numerous distinctive features, some of which reflect the influence of the Maori language, spoken by the indigenous population of New Zealand.

See also:

• Narrative eh
• Notes on English as a Global Language

Examples and Observations:

• "The part of the New Zealand vocabulary which can be described as New Zealand English in the narrowest sense is that of Maori loan words. . . .
  
  "For some of the Maori borrowings, there is no English equivalent. . . . Other Maori words have straightforward English synonyms. For example, the Maori word iwi could be replaced by 'tribe,' or the word waka by 'canoe' yet in these instances the Maori words are now always used in New Zeakand English rather than the English synonym."
  (Jennifer Hay et al., New Zealand English. Edinburgh Univ. Press, 2008)



• The following points are significant in any discussion of general New Zealand usage:
  • Standard New Zealand is broadly the same as Standard British, but some distinctions exist, such as the plural forms "rooves" and "wharves" rather than "roofs" and "wharfs."
  • In spelling, New Zealanders, like Australians, use -ise as in centralise, not -ize. In British usage, -ise is common and -ize widely used, while in American usage -ize is the norm.
  • Countable nouns of Maori origin often appear as in Maori itself, without a plural ending . . ..
  (Tom McArthur, The Oxford Guide to World English. Oxford Univ. Press, 2002)



• "The kiwi accent has been rated the most attractive and prestigious form of English outside the UK in a BBC survey. . . .
  
  "The kiwi 'fush and chups' came seven places ahead of Australia's 'sex and Seedney'--and nine ahead of the American accent in terms of attractiveness."
  ("Survey: Kiwi Top English Accent Not in UK," The New Zealand Herald, Oct. 12, 2009)