Special Sub-Topic: New Zealand Language Click Here To Play: New Zealand Language

If you were asked to "rattle your dags" what would you have to do?

hurry along. New Zealand is a country renowned for its huge population of sheep and a number of slang phrases have derived from sheep farming. When a sheep runs fast, the "dags" (hardened lumps of excrement stuck to its wool) knock together (rattle) hence rattling your dags would happen when you run or hurry.

Which one of the following would not be worn on the head?

jandals. Jandals are also known as Thongs, Sandals or Flip-flops and are worn on the feet. Handkerchiefs knotted on each corner and placed on the head as shade from the sun are a legacy from the English.

If you asked a New Zealander what he was doing and he replied "making a wigwam for a goose's bridle" what would he be telling you?

he was advising you to mind your own business. This phrase is also used by Australians and can be traced back to at least 1836. Generally used by parents when faced with endless questions from their children as to "what are you doing?" It is intended as a farcical answer to discourage further enquiry.

If something was "on the never never" what would it be?

paid for under a hire purchase agreement. The "never never" comes from the feeling with hire purchase agreements that you keep paying but never seem to get the bill paid off because of the interest that accrues on the debt/loan.

Which of the following could you wrap your laughing gear around but should avoid?

a knuckle sandwich. Wrapping your laughing gear around something means to eat. Snarlers and Bangers are sausages while a Cherio is a small cocktail sausage. A knuckle sandwich on the other hand is a punch/blow generally to the mouth.

What would you normally do with a "stubby"?

drink it. A stubby is a small bottle of beer. Although in the 1970s "Stubbies" were a brand of short tight pants/trousers that had an elastic waist band and were almost a one-size-fits-all garment. Fun is now poked at Stubbies by portraying them as extremely tight fitting short pants worn by men with large beer stomachs.

If you were said to have a "rolls kinardly" what would you possess?

an old motor vehicle. The phrase comes from describing your car as being able to roll down the hill but it can hardly make it up the other side. The description of an old car can also be a "rust-bucket".

If you had a meeting at "sparrows" what would it mean?

that it was early in the morning. Sparrows comes from cockney rhyming slang being sparrows fart or early start or up when the sparrows wake up. Jack Sparrow from 'Pirates of the Caribbean' doesn't feature. The Parliamentary cafeteria is Bellamy's.

Words/language from the indigenous people (Maoris) are now integrated into everyday conversation . If you were asked to "attend a powhiri at the kohanga reo and bring your mokopuna" what would you be expected to do?

attend a welcome at the pre-school and bring your grandchildren. A Tangi is a funeral and a meeting house is a Marae, while a tribute or donation is a Koha. A wedding is Marena, a church is a Whare Karakia (house of prayer) while song is Waiata and book Pukapuka. A graveyard is Urupa and familiar items could be said to be personal treasures or Taonga.

What does "and Bob's your Uncle" mean?

that's all there is to it. Generally used when you have been telling someone how to complete a task and you finish with "and Bob's your Uncle" meaning it's easy and that's all that is required - it's all done!