New Zealanders (Kiwis) don't have one single term for all foreigners, but use descriptive terms like "Tauiwi" (Māori for foreigner) for non-Māori/non-European, while "Pākehā" refers to New Zealanders of European descent; British visitors might be called "Pom" or "Pommy", and recent migrants often become "Kiwis" themselves, reflecting a welcoming attitude towards new residents.
Following the Second World War of 1939–1945 the term gradually became attributed to all New Zealanders, and today throughout the world they are referred to as Kiwis, as well as often referring to themselves that way.
Chur. The meaning of chur is essentially thank you. You can use this classic Kiwi slang to show gratitude or appreciation. As explained above, it can also mean "sweet as" or "that's awesome". As in: "I'll help you change your flat tyre." "Chur, bro."
Pommy or pom
The terms pommy, pommie, and pom used in Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand usually denote a British person.
The Oxford Dictionary of New Zealandisms (2010) defines the noun Pākehā as 'a light-skinned non-Polynesian New Zealander, especially one of British birth or ancestry as distinct from a Māori; a European or white person'; and the adjective as 'of or relating to Pākehā; non-Māori; European, white'.
New Zealand has a diverse ethnic mix
More than a quarter of the New Zealand population was born overseas (28.8%). In 2023, the New Zealand population included [1]: 67.8% European (3,383,700 people) 17.8% Māori (887,500 people)
Although Māori are well regarded in popular culture as having been treated better than other indigenous people, anti-Māori sentiment has been a constant fixture of New Zealand society since colonisation.
It's rhyming slang: pommie, pom (from pomegranate, because Pom's had red cheeks) rhyming with immigrant. It is actually spelt Pohms and stands for Prisoner of His Majesty. This from a Yank with a longer history here than you evidently, lol.
Bogan (/ˈboʊɡən/ BOHG-ən) is Australian and New Zealand slang to describe a person whose speech, clothing, behaviour, or attitudes are considered unrefined or unsophisticated. Depending on the context, the term can be used pejoratively or in a humorous, self-deprecating manner.
Non-rhotic New Zealand English is most similar to Australian English in pronunciation, but has key differences. A prominent difference is the realisation of /ɪ/ (the KIT vowel): in New Zealand English this is pronounced as a schwa.
dag. An unfashionable person; a person lacking style or character; a socially awkward adolescent, a 'nerd'. These senses of dag derive from an earlier Australian sense of dag meaning 'a "character", someone eccentric but entertainingly so'.
Cuz or cuzzie is short for “cousin”, but generally means “mate” or “friend”. An alternative to “bro”.
New Zealand Slang #6: Jandals
Short for "Japanese sandals," “jandals” are what New Zealanders call flip-flops. They're the go-to footwear for Kiwis during the summer months.
Crazy but Aussie is commonly used as slang for both Australia and Australian.
We refer to ourselves as Kiwis, so you're fine. It's not a slur. Technically correct would be "New Zealander" but that's less common than Kiwi.
6 things NOT to say to a Kiwi
"Ozzy Ozzy Ozzy, Oi Oi Oi" (often written as "Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi") is a patriotic Australian sports chant, a rallying cry of national pride, originating from older British cheers like "Oggy Oggy Oggy," with "Aussie" being slang for Australian, and "Oi" functioning as an emphatic interjection, similar to "Hey!" or "Go!". It's used at sporting events, sometimes considered a bit cheesy or "cringey" by some Australians, but generally seen as an inclusive way to support national teams.
Bugger. (Noun/verb/adjective) A mild profanity that's also one of the most versatile words in Australian English. Exclamation; “Bugger! I dropped some more avo on myself.”
Today the use of pom and pommy to refer to an English person is common and widespread. These words can be used with good humour or in a derogatory way, but at the core they still imply a degree of 'us and them' mentality. The term whingeing pom, first recorded in 1962, embodies this.
Although Australians and Kiwis might sound comparatively similar to the untrained ear, research has shown there is a distinct contrast in the pronunciation of vowels. Australians tend to pronounce their vowels with more emphasis on the sound [ee], whereas New Zealanders make more prominent [u] sounds.
Common Australian slang for a girl includes "Sheila" (older, sometimes dated or slightly derogatory), "chick," or just using general terms like "mate," "gal," or "lass," with context and tone being important, but "girl" is still widely used; some slang, like "moll," can refer to a girlfriend or a promiscuous woman, while "bogan" describes an unsophisticated person.
In Australian English the word dunny is used informally for toilet. It derives from the British dialect word dunnekin meaning 'privy' (from dung 'excrement' and ken 'house'). It was originally used in Australian English, from the 1930s, to refer to an unsewered outside toilet.
Noa is the opposite of Tapu and refers to ordinary, everyday things such as food or alcohol. Those two should be kept separated. That's why you should avoid sitting on pillows and touching or passing food over a person's head, since it's considered very sacred by Māori people.
The government encouraged intermarriage, which was seen as a means of 'civilising' Māori. However, some people disapprove of intermarriage.
Deeply integrated economies, common security and foreign policy interests, shared history, values and institutions, personal connections, geographical proximity and a healthy sporting rivalry combine to make New Zealand's relationship with Australia our closest and most significant.