Time for another Kiwi English lesson.
We did this last year, so some of you may
have a head start.
We have added new
words too.
To start, you get 3 versions of kiwi – all of them seen below.
The kiwi bird is the national icon of New Zealand. They are nocturnal, so most people never see
one in the wild. This kiwi was
photographed in his burrow at Willowbank Nature Reserve where Cindy
volunteers. Kiwi fruit comes in either
gold or green flesh. Kiwi people are those born in New Zealand.
The next photos are what you could use on a “cracker of a
day” or “fine day” as opposed to a day when the weather is “dodgy” – find the
sunnies, togs, jandals and chilly bin.
Many Kiwi use shortened versions of words, so sunnies is a
quick way to refer to your sunglasses which you would want when you put on your
togs to go swimming. Students wear
jandals on their feet year round, or some just go barefoot, even in cold
weather. The chilly bin or chilly bag will keep your
food cold. Did you guess correctly? Good on ya!
On your way to the beach, you could stop by a dairy.
– no, not to see a
cow; we mean this kind of dairy.
A dairy is a convenience store where you could buy a
newspaper or milk or some food to put in your chilly bin, like bikkies, an ice
block or maybe some cereal for brekkie.
Bikkies are short for biscuits (cookies), ice blocks are our
popsicles and you guessed it, sultana bran is raisin bran for brekkie or
breakfast (remember the part about shortened versions of words).
Sometime in the day you might stop for a cuppa and a slice
at one of the heaps of cafes you will see. Kiwis use "heaps" to refer to something numerous.
 |
| Ginger slice |
Cuppa is short for “cup of tea” and can refer to tea, coffee
or milo (a fortified chocolate drink). A slice is what we'd call a bar. If you are at work, you would have a “smoko” or afternoon
break/smoking break, even though most people no longer smoke.
Later in the day, you might have a savoury dish as your main and finish with some pudding (fruit or other dessert dish).
On a muftie day (fundraising day) the local school or church
may have a sausage sizzle. For muftie
days at school, the children can wear casual clothes rather than their
uniforms.
 |
| Sausage Sizzle |
Can you guess what the two photos below refer to?
WOF stands for Warranty of Fitness, not for you, but for
your car. You must have a document
certifying that your car has passed an inspection of safety and road
worthiness. If you are involved in an
accident, you may need to take your car to a panelbeater (auto body technician) to get some dents
removed.
If you hop in your car (be sure to drive on the opposite
side of the road than in the US) you could tow your caravan, or maybe you want
to drive your campervan or motor home.
 |
| Caravan |
 |
| Campervan - this particular one is extra fancy! |
You could go tramping
(hiking) and see a chook, wee lamb or a paradise shelduck, a native duck found only in New Zealand.
 |
| Trampers |
 |
| Chook |
 |
| Female paradise shelduck |
 |
| Male paradise shelduck |
You could pop in to the mall (they have them here too), take
the travelator and use your prezzy card (gift card) to buy some presents for chrissy
(Christmas). You would want some sticky
tape (scotch tape/cellophane tape) when you wrap the presents.
 |
| Travelator |
Oh, that hop, skip and a jump is really a pat, skip and
a jump(er)!
 |
| Cow pat |
 |
| Skip |
 |
| Jumper |
Cheers!
