The New Zealand accent itself was responsible for ‘minor throat and nasal disorders.'
The Triad, a New Zealand magazine from 1910
One of the most distinctive and misunderstood varieties of English, the Kiwi accent is often mistaken for Australian or South African English. The New Zealand accent is distinct, with its own rhythm and charm, and once you recognise it, you'll be able to appreciate it more. It has plenty of flat, fast, and unexpected vowel sounds. From Wellington to the South Island, learning about the NZ accent is a way to gain access to Kiwi culture. Here, we'll explore the accent's features and how it differs across the country.
What Makes the Kiwi Accent So Recognisable?
To English speakers from elsewhere in the world and speakers of other languages, the New Zealand accent is sometimes surprising, but there are plenty of blockbuster films and interviews with New Zealand athletes and actors where you can hear the accent being used. So, what makes the New Zealand accent stand out?
people in New Zealand speak English.
For one, the vowels are relatively unique in comparison to a lot of other variants of English. The short "i" sound, as in "fish" or "six", is often pronounced more like a "u" in many other English accents. International English speakers may find this confusing at first, but it's part of everyday speech in New Zealand. To prepare yourself, you should hear what other people have said about New Zealand.
The flatter tone is also a good way to differentiate it from Australian and American variants of English. New Zealand English tends to sound faster and more clipped than other English accents, which can cause certain syllables to drop or blend together, especially in more casual conversations.
Kiwis often have a rising inflection at the end of sentences, making their intonation different from that of many other types of English. Those not accustomed to it may even think the speaker is uncertain or asking a question, but it's actually just how many New Zealanders speak.
The New Zealand accent is distinct, expressive, and unmistakably theirs. Once you start tuning in to the accent, you'll pick up on the rhythm and vocal patterns that make it so unique.
A Brief History of the NZ Accent
The New Zealand accent is relatively young compared to some of the other national English variants, particularly those from the British Isles. It dates back to around the 19th century with the arrival of settlers from England, Ireland, and Scotland. Their accents and dialects, including some of the slang, which were distinct in their home countries, started to blend together in New Zealand to form the basis of what would later become New Zealand English.
The Kiwi accent didn't evolve slowly like those that initially influenced it. Instead, it has become its own thing fairly quickly, and despite often being confused with Australian English by English speakers from the Northern Hemisphere, a tiny percentage of the immigrants were from Australia at the time.
Struggling to tell accents apart? This video can help.
The early 20th century was when the centralised short "i" and "e" sounds had become trademarks of the accent. Given that New Zealand is relatively new and one of the younger variants of English, it means that a significant amount of its evolution has been documented.
The NZ accent is still involving today, and while it has British roots, the influences of te reo Māori and global media mean that it remains a distinct and unique English dialect.
The New Zealand accent is often described as one of the most rapidly developed English dialects. While most English accents evolved gradually over centuries, New Zealand English formed in just a few generations. This was due to the blending of multiple British dialects and the country's geographic isolation, which created the perfect conditions for a distinct variety of English to emerge quickly.
The Signature Sounds of New Zealand English
Just remember that everybody has an accent, so to explain the distinct aspects of New Zealand English, we have to compare it to some of the other English-speaking countries. With these comparisons, we're benchmarking it against more common British and American English variants, as it's more usual for English language learners to be familiar with them.
The Short “i” Vowel Shift
One of the most notable features is the vowel shift in words like "fish" or "six." In the New Zealand accent, these words often sound like "fush" and "sux". This centralisation of the short "i" vowel is one of the most recognisable traits, and it often causes confusion for learners of English.
Flattened Diphthongs
Words that include diphthongs (combinations of two vowel sounds) often get flattened in Kiwi speech. For example, the word face might sound more like fess, and goat may come out closer to goot. These changes are subtle but significant in regional pronunciation.
Non-Rhotic Speech
Like many British and Australian dialects, the NZ accent is non-rhotic, meaning the "r" at the end of words like car or better isn't fully pronounced. It may sound like 'cah' or 'betta', especially in casual conversation.
Intonation Patterns
Kiwis often use a rising intonation at the end of sentences, even when they’re not asking a question. This speech pattern gives their accent a musical quality, but can confuse people from North America or the UK, who associate that rising tone with uncertainty. It mightn't help either that New Zealand has a lot of unique sayings and expressions.
North Island vs South Island: Subtle Accent Differences
Like English accents and dialects, the New Zealand accent isn't uniform across the whole country. There are regional differences, particularly between the North and South Islands. These differences are subtle when compared to the differences in British dialects, but they are still there, and given how relatively new New Zealand English is, they still have time to diverge further.
It's been noted that certain speakers from New Zealand's South Island, for example, might have a “Southland burr”, when they slightly roll the pronunciation of the “r” in words that drop it in other parts of New Zealand. It's thought that this comes from Scottish settlers arriving in New Zealand.
While most of New Zealand is non-rhotic (doesn’t pronounce “r” sounds at the ends of words), some speakers in the Southland region have a slight “burr” or rolled “r”. This regional trait is believed to have originated from early Scottish settlers. It’s one of the very few regional accent variations in the country that is still audible today.
In Auckland, Wellington, and other parts of the North Island, however, there's a greater influence from urban and multicultural speech, with vowel shifts more exaggerated due to the blending of international influences and even other languages spoken in New Zealand (English isn't the native language of New Zealand, after all). Both islands share many characteristics with one another, and each variant could also be considered a Kiwi accent.
Kiwi Accent vs Australian Accent: Know the Difference
International speakers of English may struggle to differentiate Australian and New Zealand accents, especially if they've had limited exposure to both. However, to native speakers of both, the differences are apparent.
Both have their origins in mostly British English dialects, but the Kiwi accent is generally more understated and flatter than the Australian accent.
Vowel Clarity
The quickest way to work out whether you're listening to an Australian dialect or a New Zealand dialect is through the vowels. Australian English dialects usually have broader vowels, while Kiwi English is flatter and more clipped.
Intonation and Rhythm
The Kiwi accent is also more monotone with smoother transitions. Australian English is famously characterised by sharp tonal shifts and more nasal qualities. Both dialects tend to include a rising intonation, but the Australian accents tend to do this more abruptly, while the Kiwi rise is usually softer and more rhythmic.
How Kiwi English Is Used in Media and Pop Culture
Listening to examples is the best way to get a feel for the accent. Luckily, New Zealand produces a lot of quality media where you can hear the Kiwi accent. Shows like Shortland Street and Wellington Paranormal have helped introduce the NZ accent to international audiences, and famous New Zealanders like Taika Waititi, Sam Neill, and Rose Matafeo tend to regularly use their native New Zealand accent.
Podcasting, YouTube, music, and even advertising are all ways to get your fill of Kiwi content and even explore the regional dialects of New Zealand. Kiwis are embracing their own language variation in the media, and the more people watch and listen, the less they have to adapt or soften their accents.
- Shortland Street
- Hunt for the Wilderpeople
- Wellington Paranormal
- The Brokenwood Mysteries
Tools and Techniques to Practice the NZ Accent
As with learning any language, practice makes perfect, even when working on a New Zealand accent. Active practice, repetition, and attention to detail can help, and there are plenty of tools and strategies you can use to fine-tune your Kiwi pronunciation.
Audio and Video Resources
Watch local TV shows, listen to podcasts from New Zealand, or watch YouTubers with strong New Zealand accents. There are plenty of channels like RNZ, Stuff, and TVNZ that have real-world examples of the NZ accent.
Shadowing and Phonetic Practice
Listen to speakers using the accent and repeat it out loud. You can develop muscle memory for pronunciation, vowel placement, consonant softening, and intonation. Phonetic transcriptions or subtitled videos can also help.
Record and Compare
To ensure you're doing it correctly, record yourself and compare it to recordings of native speakers. Pay particular attention to commonly mispronounced words, pitch, and pace.
Work with a Coach or Tutor
A private tutor is the best way to get immediate and personalised feedback. On Superprof, you can find tutors from New Zealand to help you improve your English while focusing on their accent and dialect. Search for English tutors in New Zealand or from New Zealand if you're not in the country, or you could even work with online tutors from anywhere in the world, connecting with New Zealanders and learning how they speak. With most tutors on Superprof offering the first session for free, you can always try a few potential tutors before choosing the right one for you, your budget, and your learning style.
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
