# The New Zealand Accent **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 16, 2013, 9:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449 "2013-12-16T09:52:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/41 "2013-12-16T15:22:33Z")
The rest of you: Let’s rein in the attacks on the kiwis, too. No sense returning rudeness with rudeness. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/42 "2013-12-16T15:29:02Z")
> [@Jonathan\_Chance](#): > > The rest of you: Let’s rein in the attacks on the kiwis, too. No sense returning rudeness with rudeness. Why is this thread in Great Debates? ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/43 "2013-12-16T15:54:39Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Why is this thread in Great Debates? Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/44 "2013-12-16T16:27:40Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Exactly. Yes. Based on the OP’s OP, posts, and attitude, even The Pit might be a good place. At least IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Capt\_Kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@Capt\_Kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capt_Kirk)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/45 "2013-12-16T16:28:10Z")
One word Ovineaphobia 25 internet points to anyone who gets it For the record, I have a passport and if I have a Kiwi, an Aussie and a South African in the same room I can tell the difference in the accents and know which is which but if they are solo I might mistake the SA with the Kiwi. **Capt** ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/46 "2013-12-16T16:36:46Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > Rarely have a problem distinguishing Aussies from Kiwis, the cork hats help, but what I want to know is why SA and Kiwi accents are more similar than either are to Aussie accents? I take it you mean the very _English_ South African English accent, not the Afrikaans Souff Effrikun English accent? Don’t hear it, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/47 "2013-12-16T16:44:07Z")
I’m English. If I was asked to describe a (typical) New Zealand accent, I’d probably say: _It’s a bit similar to some Australian accents, but softer/lighter with some different vowel sounds._ I’m certain that to a citizen of either Australia or New Zealand, the difference seems far greater than it does to me, but that’s the way it always seems to work - as a Briton, my perception is that there is greater diversity of accent in spoken English within the British Isles than there is _in the rest of the English-speaking world put together_ - it always boggles my mind when I encounter people who think there’s just one ‘British’ accent. ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/48 "2013-12-16T16:46:26Z")
Easy to tell Kiwis and Aussies apart. Kiwis eat epples, Aussies eat apples. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/49 "2013-12-16T16:48:52Z")
To tell a Canadian from an American: Ask him to say “about”. To tell a Kiwi from an Aussie: Ask him to say “fish”. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/50 "2013-12-16T16:53:49Z")
Mostly because I was cogitating on IMHO or the Pit (due to language). IMHO it is. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/51 "2013-12-16T16:58:59Z")
My rule is, if it’s English and I don’t recognize the accent, it’s Kiwi. This works at least 15% of the time. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/52 "2013-12-16T17:03:03Z")
> [@Ben-wynyard](#): > > But surely your taught in schools about different cultures? what do americans think of New Zealand?? how are we viewed?? We don’t get taught about New Zealand, we have little experience in the US with the Kiwi accent and if it wasn’t for the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies we would no even less about NZ then we do now. In High School History, NZ when mentioned is usually only in terms of being part of the forces lumped in with Australia fighting in the 2 world wars and maybe for shipping meat for sheep all over the world and thus early refrigeration on cargo ships. I’m sure you get better coverage in Britain but NZ is a small minor country far away from the US and far from where things important to the US happened. Sadly my countryman are lucky is they can identify minor Latin American countries and European Countries and those are much more important to the US. When I was in the Navy I was appalled by how few of my fellow sailors knew where even Iran was and this in the mid-80s. So as to accents, there is little hope of the average American having a clue. ---
**Author:** ![Gullible\_s\_Travels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/9de0a6/32.png) [@Gullible\_s\_Travels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gullible_s_Travels)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/53 "2013-12-16T17:05:03Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Even if there was such a thing as an Every Nation In The World survey course in American schools, New Zealand would probably get about 40 seconds worth of lecture time. > > That’s a cool fact about the jet boat, but I’m afraid that most Americans (if they recognize the Kiwi concept at all), associate your country with [this](http://www.kiwishoeshine.com/Top-Rated_c_53.html?gclid=CNios9n2tLsCFbBFMgodywQASw). > > Not that it’s an inferior product mind you, but handling the cans is messy. Pretty sure that Kiwi shoe polish is actually an Australian product… and I had no idea it was popular, or even known, in the US! ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/54 "2013-12-16T17:05:25Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > I’m English. If I was asked to describe a (typical) New Zealand accent, I’d probably say: _It’s a bit similar to some Australian accents, but softer/lighter with some different vowel sounds._ > > I’m certain that to a citizen of either Australia or New Zealand, the difference seems far greater than it does to me, but that’s the way it always seems to work - as a Briton, my perception is that there is greater diversity of accent in spoken English within the British Isles than there is _in the rest of the English-speaking world put together_ - it always boggles my mind when I encounter people who think there’s just one ‘British’ accent. I think there really is greater diversity of accent in spoken English within the British Isles than there is in the rest of the English-speaking world put together. I mean the US has some very distinct accents but the number of really distinct accents in the British Isles is amazing. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/55 "2013-12-16T17:07:09Z")
> [@What\_Exit](#): > > So as to accents, there is little hope of the average American having a clue. Most haven’t yet figured out where the Geico gecko comes from. ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/56 "2013-12-16T17:07:49Z")
> [@Ben-wynyard](#): > > But surely your taught in schools about different cultures? what do americans think of New Zealand?? how are we viewed?? Preferably from a distance. Or kept safely in cages. One of my friends in college was a Kiwi. I speak from painful experience. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/57 "2013-12-16T17:11:52Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Most haven’t yet figured out where the Geico gecko comes from. L.A. area. Somewhere near San Gabriel. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/58 "2013-12-16T17:14:40Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > . . . it always boggles my mind when I encounter people who think there’s just one ‘British’ accent. I’m not buying it. To me they all sound like Dick van Dyke in “Mary Poppins.” ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/59 "2013-12-16T17:15:16Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Most haven’t yet figured out where the Geico gecko comes from. He’s clearly a species of Day Gecko, so I must presume he is native to one of the tropical islands of the Indian Ocean. (but that could just be where his family was from originally) ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449/60 "2013-12-16T17:28:00Z")
Isn’t New Zealand about the size of one of our fifty states? We have a dozen accent in our own country to keep up with. Why would we be expected to tell the difference between NZ and any other English language accent? I know one person in NZ. Jamie Frater from Listverse. He seems like a nice enough guy. Don’t suppose you know him do ya? 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-new-zealand-accent/676449.md?page=4)