Excessive use of the word "odd" You seem to be giving your explanations of what happens in the good old US of A, a faint air of superiority. You speak what's known as American English, and strangely enough we, as New Zealanders speak New Zealand English! If you want to hear really interesting (albeit irritating) English, check out the Australian accent and its usage !!
As a Dutch person living in New Zealand, I found out when I went back that I'm very appreciative of the friendliness. When you are here people ask how long you are staying. In The Netherlands they ask when you are leaving 🙄🤔
As a kiwi I think it's worse that many Americans (and younger kiwis) use the word 'like' superfluously: and say 'bring' instead of 'take'. The reason the man got angry with you was because handicapped carparks are only for use by those who are debilitated in terms of walking distances. New Zealanders don't call potatoe chips crisps - that's what they're called in the UK. Kiwis call them chippies. If wait staff are considered important in the US why aren't they paid commensurately, therefore not having to rely on tips? Burgers with beetroot are called kiwi burgers. You usually have to ask for the egg or beetroot.
The reason water is self serve in a lot of places is because it is a legal requirement in order to obtain a liquor licence. Water needs to be easily accessible, readily available, and be easily seen by patrons at all times.
Yes, I really appreciate this in NZ cafe's. Also the coffee is the best I have had anywhere. We are mad about our coffee. The most terrible cafe will have barrista coffee.
And if ur really low on tank water and u notice it. Especially when ur visiting home after many years of being away living in the city or living away overseas U have to take a bath down at ur nearby creek or river like in the primitive ways that u remember the water being pass ur head when u were a little child growing up but now the water can barely pass my ankles 😂
@@Kiwiamericans Of course there are, but thanks to Hollywood the American culture is very well known throughout the globe, just not in the reverse. I find it hard to believe there were kiwis who didn't know what a french fry was. Every maccas calls them that, as well as Katchup. I reckon you're having a lend... (jk)
@@prathamkamath13 Not sure I understand your question. Aboriginal & Maori cultures are different, of course. The Australians & NZ's resulting from Britain colonising the two countries a couple of hundred years ago, or so, are quite similar. Our accents are slightly different but use of language very similar. Is that what you mean?
Street libraries are great! Somebody was asked if they weren't scared somebody would steal the books and they answered:"people who read don't steal"...
The artists in New Zealand are just so fabulous! Glass, ceramics, weavings, paintings, sculptures, metalworks. I had a lot of trouble fitting everything I bought into our luggage.
I am a Kiwi living in Hawaii. Your collection of kiwi "oddities" had me in stitches. I had forgotten the idiosyncracies that were normal when I lived there. I so look forward to my next trip home soon. kia ora!
Im a Filipino and grew up "Sesame Street" English and basically US influence, and I can totally relate to you. "Odd" may not be the right word though, "different" should be fine. Do you "reckon" ?
I also think "togs" is English, a Canadian Navy Officer friend told me the word stems from the British navy. Togs might be like an old term form Mess Kit? "Getting togged up"...maybe?
@@AgoniesAunt The meaning of 'togs' in UK English is 'clothes' or more precisely 'good clothes'. Its meaning in NZ & Australian English is 'bathing suit'. Sorry, Kiwi English is closer to UK than American English, but not for every word and phrase. Getting togged up means getting dressed up in England.
I think you’ve highlighted what’s actually odd about America rather than NZ but then again I’m an Aussie so what’s odd to you about NZ is normal to us. Australia and NZ are like siblings, we fight but we still love each other ❤️
Haha 😂 “i reckon” that you should have a look at Australian slang. That might throw you off the boat a bit , but to us kiwis it’s just normal talk to us.
Yeah felt that way too... First few vids I enjoyed but more I watch her she's like in this Real Housewives of USA 🤣 you chose to move to a new country you adapt.
Just got to clarify - we don't poop on crosswalks. If our dogs should poop on the footpath or berm then we're required to pick it up and dispose of it (using a disposable bag) ;-)
Hey ! Dog poop is NOT a small thing! Have you ever stepped in somebody's dog poop? I HATE it when people don't pick up their dog's poo. New Zealander here! LOL xxx
Another word we DON'T use in New Zealand is Handicap. We use the word Disabled. And also if you were parked in a disabled car park with out a card, even to pick up your child. Please don't this is a huge problem this disabled community faces daily.
@@harrycurrie9664 wow didn't know that,came to Oz '89 and Watties bought Goodman Fielder and I know why "Goodman Fielder Watties" isn't a thing any more.
Ex baker here. Donuts are made with a sweet dough and are often baked then deep fried. Tossed through cinnamon sugar then filled with cream and jam. Hot dog buns are just a normal white bread dough.
that subtlety of cuisine is lost on this particular american, who sounds like she;s tryring to" homogonise" subtleties/nuances here to fit her comfy yank monothought...." y'all" better get with it if "y"all" are staying !
tomato sauce is a new zealand cultural touchstone. of course we look at you weird if you ask for ketchup. generally you can tell if the chips are hot or cold based on context
I have been in places like Hard Rock Cafe in London, where if you ordered hamburger and chips, you would get the cold crisps, not the hot fries. Which was weird!
NZ businesses pay wait staff with no expectation of tips to make up their wage. Tips are for excellent service rather than the business shifting responsibility for paying their staff to the customers
The term "gumboots" comes from the early settler days when a number of pioneers came here for the Kauri tree gum known as Amber which was very valuable. It was and is still used in a number of medicinals and polishes. The Gum Diggers wore "Gum boots" of course, or more probably "Gumdiggers boots", but shortened to Gum boots.
I am a New Zealander. This was really entertaining. Never really thought of the the way that some of our popular phrases could be misinterpreted! Like others have said before, we know what French fries are. There is some truth in the observation that most people are very friendly but when some pathetic rule is crossed some people get quite annoyed. All in all , kapai, tumeke, sweet as. 😂
"Togs" is short for the word "togeman", which was 16th century criminal slang for "coat". In the 18th century, "togs" started being used more generally as slang for clothes. In the UK, the word still just means "clothes", but in Australia and New Zealand, it came to be used in a swimming context.
Yes, getting "togged up" meant getting our gear on, for whatever you're doing (getting dressed up). We also used to call 'togging' as a light woollen knit (which would be good for swimming in - at least would dry quickly).
Well, a beautiful little lemon tart I got in Rotorua would disprove that baked goods behind glass are made fresh daily, but I'm sure it was an exception. I didn't start to eat it until I got to Matamata, and I wanted to cry. I had anticipated so much how I would enjoy it because it looked amazing. It was so dry and hard. 😢 😂
Some of these aren't applicable for all across the country, it definitely depends on what area you're in! Also our jam doughnuts aren't just buns. It is a cinnamon cakey style doughnut. They're pretty delicious, just different. Definitely pop into a bakery and try this kiwi classic!
@@robertmcgregor1514 you may be right in that she's encountered a cream bun rather than a doughnut. There's no way you'd confuse the two if you'd tried both.
@@taniagilbody1745 hard to find now with a lovely crunch to the doughnut on the outside and soft inside. I used to love them then. Now a lot of places put things in bags so you don't get the crunch anymore, very sad lol
Whenever anyone asks me if the toilet water spins in the opposite direction in New Zealand, I always say "No, because we don't waste enough water in the toilet bowl for it to even spin at all, it normally just gets sucked down into the hole without spinning." That always manages to blow a few minds. 😂
I was pretty shocked when I went to Hawaii (only place I've been in that part of the world) and saw how much water they waste in their toilets. And I felt like if I sat down too fast my bum would land in the water. Also, what's with the huge gaps around the toilet doors? I was making eye contact with people walking past :(
Right?? Hearing for years about the problem woman have, when the seat is up, and taking a dip in the water??? I couldn't get my head around that as our water level is so low - until I went to the US and saw it with my own eyes 😂 horrified! 😂😂😂
We have a saying here... "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" Usually it's old people who don't flush number ones because they grew up with tank water which runs out if ya flush too much.
I am a NZer living in Australia. I don't remember selective toilet flushing being a thing when I was in NZ. But when I arrived in Australia I was often told "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down". It's definitely a greeny thing - so wouldn't be surprised if its common in NZ. Edit - just looked it up - it's actually an American saying! Came out of the California droughts apparently.
Couple of points, "fortnight" comes from UK English,and its used widely throughout English-speaking countries,I'm surprised its not in use in Canada. I've never heard "crisps" in use apart from British people,just thought maybe you know some Brits that have migrated over?
I'm a kiwi born and raised but beetroot on anything is just plain wrong! If I want to eat something that taste like dirt I'll eat dirt - It probably tastes better than beetroot.
Talking of flushing...lived through drought and water crisis in Auckland (city got down to 8 days city supply left) ... anyways, there was a big water saving campaign.." if it's yellow let it mellow...if it's brown, flush it down" ... people also put bricks or full 2 litre bottles inside the cistern, to take up water volume and flush less ... or you were given a lead weight to put on the internal plunger... this would make it flush only if you held the button down.
Oh, and trusting the cabinet food- every food establishment has a grade (food safety, cleanliness etc) which has to be displayed for customers to see. Most have a big A on the wall.
You have to realise these two are a product of American education system and the good old US of A.. this should help explain the fact they are not the brightest crayons in the box. They need our understanding and gentle guidance to realise that not everywhere is like America. (Thank goodness)
@@jaybrough4374 I'm American and I have heard, and use the word "fortnight" all the time. (not be confused with Fortnite :P) So maybe it's just their inner circle/family or state even, that never used the term. 50 states, and they all operate a little different.
A New Zealand burger without beetroot is incomplete. I'm sure pretty much everyone in NZ knows what fries are, and only English immigrants (and some South Islanders) call chips "crisps"
@@pennyanderson760 I don't really eat egg (or yokum) burgers but when you do you have to eat them at home so you can wash up afterwards. That yummy runny egg yolk gets everywhere.
I will never forget my burger in Arrowtown when the server asked if I wanted a pickle on it. I said “yes” but had the surprise of my life when I bit into a slice of beet root as thick as the burger. I wasn’t ready for that and I never been a fan of pickled beets.
Enjoyed your vid. When it comes to waiters and being waited on that not a big thing in NZ. People would generally prefer to do things for themselves if they can. NZ culture is not big on servitude or formality. Most Kiwis would not want to think they were putting someone out. when I lived in London I found it somewhat perplexing being addressed as Sir all the time Not like I am Ed Hillary or something in NZ we prefer "Bro".
When I arrived in a North American airport on my first trip out of New Zealand, of course I took a look as the toilet flushed, to see if the water spins the opposite way. It did and it unnerved me so much I got dizzy and kind of half fell over in shock.
Ah, but did you observe it many, many times? My Weather&Climate prof in college was teaching us about the Coriolis Effect and this question came up. He said that small bodies of water such as in toilets, bathtubs, sinks, are too small to be reliably affected by it. They are more affected by irregularites of the container and the drain. Sure enough, when I visited NZ I made a point to observe this and water did in fact drain both clockwise and counterclockwise. And that's my nerdy 2cents for the day 🤓
@@David_Rafuse I have read that same theory many times. But in fact, I observed water going down the "wrong" way over and over, each and every time I flushed the toilet in Canada, until enough years had gone by that I didn't notice anymore. Then I went to New Zealand for a holiday, and noticed the water going down opposite to the direction it was in Canada. So either the theory is not quite on the nose, or all Canadian toilets are made the same way, and that way is opposite to how all New Zealand toilets are made (exempting the toilet you observed water going down in the way you were used to, of course).
There was a guy, "Jonesy" in Murrumbateman NSW Australia who used to walk his pet sheep daily. I met his twin in Illabo NSW and the first thing he said to me was "you'd know my twin, he walks his sheep every day" 😂
I don't even know what to say about this video. I almost feel like you've misunderstood the motives of people in NZ. Disabled parking is a big deal, very much a respect for others thing and NZers aren't fond of entitled attitudes generally. As far as restaurants and waiters go, some of what you said is correct but we have a huge range of establishments in different price ranges and styles so everything from takeout, to order at the counter and they'll bring it to you, to sit down and wait till the waiters comes to you, to seated by a waiter. A massive range but the part about paying at the counter as you leave is standard mostly. Similar with gumboots, this depends on your location and whether it's a city or rural. You don't wear gumboots in the cbd lol. Definitely tradies or farmers take off muddy boots though for sure. Generally though, NZers are comparable to many other countries in our use of language, Americans I feel are the outliers more so. We were colonised by the British after all so there's a lot of similarities to be had. I'll definitely be watching some of your other content, it's fascinating to hear an outsiders perspective on our country.
Yes i agree you should respect the rules for Disabled parking but tbh she just parked for one second not the whole entire day or an hour. Her son was sick so sometimes you should bend the rules. Dont you think?
60% of kiwis live rurally. We are outdoors people which is why gum boots are very practical. They are not worn by people in the cities. Calling your channel kiwiamericans is an oxymoron my friend. As for toilet flushing, a lot of folk are on tank water (catching rain water) not flushing for no1 is water conservation.
Odd is when you go to Disneyland in California, order fish and chips and get presented with fish and crisps/potato chips. Ha,ha! It all depends what you're used to. Most Kiwis would associate French Fries with the skinny chips you get at takeaway places like McDonalds.
It's funny when you grow up in NZ you don't realise how strange some of our slang would sound to visitors or people moving here from other countries. 😁All the things you mention don't happen everywhere in the country. Some are perhaps more North Island or more South Island. If you don't like something in your burgers, just ask for your order without it. Most restarants or Takeaway places will be happy to oblige. Love your shared videos as I watch both your channels 😀
I'm Australian and yes the majority of words you have talked about are common in Australia too and even in the UK as well as NZ. Fortnight is normal English, reckon is definitely common in Australia, we use 'whilst' as well in SA but not so sure about the Eastern States, (might be too many convict descendants there) and I believe togs comes from the UK and is also common in Australia but other colloquialisms such as bathers and swimmers are used as well. Dual flush toilets were invented by the South Australian company Caroma , South Australia in 1980, and that's probably because it's the driest State in the driest continent. We don't wear gumboots to the shops ever and yes that's their name in Australia too. I really my enjoyed my time in NZ, short though as it was, and same with the US, and I really do enjoy your show which brings it all together. I remember hearing you refer to American coffee once as battery acid or similar and oh yeah, I definitely agree with that. Love your work and enjoy your shows so keep having fun, and just know you do make NZ sound wonderful.
"we use 'whilst' as well in SA but not so sure about the Eastern States, (might be too many convict descendants there)"....you south australians are hilarious with your non-convict thing ;)
Quite right! Aussie and nz are very similar! Also though a lot of nzders wear gummys nearly everywhere including shops and pak n save 🤣🤣common in the far north
By law, cabinet food has to be fresh. If it doesn't sell, it gets dumped. Some places, if you turn up near closing time, will offer you whatever's in the cabinets at a reduced price or sometimes free - so it doesn't go to waste as they'll likely be dumping it in about 15 minutes.
Togs is from British slang, and New Zealand's English heritage is British. It used to mean clothes in general (perhaps from toga), but in New Zealand it became restricted to what you wear to go swimming or sunbathing. In the British Army it meant your uniform.
@@tangaroastylesgraphixz.7779 I do. I've lived half my adult life in each country and on balance they are very similar except for the obvious stuff like climate and snakes (which btw I've yet to see one). Australia is no more "insanely regulated" than NZ.
Something I have never seen anywhere else’s..NZs bad house insulation was put to good use in the 40s. Hundreds of state houses were built and they had a hot water cupboard in the ones on my street. It was a cupboard with the back open to the water heater. It was badly insulated and the cupboard had slats instead of shelves so air could circulate. People would put towel”s and sheets in the cupboard to warm and finish drying. It worked great.
Australia and NZ are VERY similar 😊 Speaking of the trust system, yes, it's awesome. We have people selling their home grown avocados during this time of the year and free lemons too. You just take whatever you need. My mum usually puts a dollar or two next to the produce to show her appreciation 😄
When you are passing a primary school in a school days, you need to slow down even if that is not much traffic, they have cops or police watching and you might find a ticket or infringement of up to $80 which might also depends on your speed.
Also a school traffic warden might be particularly pugnacious if you stop your vehicle and obstruct other cars' line of sight. Also we get particularly annoyed by people who act as though rules are for everybody else but not me. Still, he shouldn't have opened your door. Sounds like you weren't the only one having a bad day.
It might seem like such a tiny thing to winge about, but picking up ur dog poo is actually really important with regards to protecting the environment. All sorts of zoonotic diseases spread through them and Aotearoa's native fauna is already so delicate. It's also just gross, and I reckon alot of kiwis would be of the opinion that getting slammed for it in the local paper a pretty fair strategy to discourage it LOL.
In Australia and NZ, your American 'ass' is spelled and pronounced 'arse'. While talking nether regions, a 'fanny' is around a woman's front, hence the wide eyes when someone says that "she fell straight on her fanny". Whilst on the topic, you have already mentioned the NZ meaning of 'root'. During the Vietnam war, President LBJ addressed a large crowd in Brisbane Australia, thanking "all you Brisbane girls for rooting for our American servicemen". The applause was long and enthusiastic.
Not always true. Best dam donut I’ve ever ever had came from the park n save in Sylvia park in Auckland. They must have hired some wizard to work there, but their donut were NEXT LEVEL GOD MODE. Deep fried chewing tasty donut slathered in sugar and cinnamon filled with sweetened fresh cream. AMAZNG
CHUR IRECKON YOU LADIES ARE A CRACKUPS AND HEARTYAS AND ENJOY WATCHING UM IN OZ CHASING DA COIN BUT YOU FELLAS MAKE ME MISS HOMES KEEP UP GOOD MAHI (WORK) CHUR CHUR AND KIAORA TO YOU AND WHANAU MY SISTERS OF AOTEAROA##
after checking with my baker flatmate, the sweet dough used for long donuts is essentially the same as for round donuts. recipe's may vary from bakery to bakery but pretty much the same thing.
Also, they're deep-fried, like the round do-nuts, not baked in the oven like hot-dog buns. I used to make them when I worked as a baker's boy. So they're a really light, fried bread.
As a Kiwi-type of a Wellington persuasion, there are one or two things I could quibble with (esp the idea we've never heard of French Fries) ... but that'd be a little churlish & mean-spirited ... this is a lighthearted & actually pretty complimentary video (generous to NZers) from two particularly gorgeous & charismatic American women ... what's not to like ?
As a Brit who migrated to New Zealand there are many things that the Kiwi's have different names for. For example Gumboots (we call them Wellies or Wellingtons) , Potato Chips (we call them Crisps), Dairy's ( we call it the corner shop) etc etc It's a long list but doesn't take long to get used to it. Funnily enough when I went to stay with a friend in Australia for a few months, they weren't familiar at all with the Kiwi words, when I said "I'm going to the dairy" they all looked at me and said " A Dairy Farm" and they did call them "Crisps" , I found Australians to be much more European/British leaning towards how they describe things. That was an eye-opener.
*Regarding Beetroot on burgers in Australia* Rumour is, once a upon a time Australians started putting beetroot on our burgers in the 1940s. It apparently started as a prank on US troops who came ashore for R&R around World War II - who were presumably horrified to have their burgers "stained by beetroot juice" and it just stuck with us!
Don't how so many Americans don't know the word "fortnight". It's the literal word to define a period of 2 weeks. Only Fortnight Americans know is Fortnite. Also french fries. You must've got someone pretty unintelligent to not know what they are. Tonnes of us Kiwis call them fries as well as chips. At a Bistro I used to cook at we would have meals that came with "salad and fries".
The donuts aren’t actually hotdog buns, they’re just shaped that way. They’re usually a sweetened, enriched dough but they’re not as sweet as American donuts so I can understand what you mean.
Thanks. I was going to post about that. The cream donuts where I am from are nigh on irresistible. The "sweetened, enriched dough" is very soft and the cream is fresh. Delicious.
I find in a lot of bakeries they're almost a cakey crumb. Delicious though, a true kiwi classic. Also she bought hers from a pak'n'save so no wonder she doesn't like them, she hasn't sampled the real deal yet!
There are cream bun and there are donuts... The doughnut is shaped like a hot dog bun, but it is still fried and a doughnut, but there are also just normal buns with cream in them.
@@subculturenz The "shaped like a bun, but [deep] fried" I've only ever seen in fish & chip shops. If it's in a bakery or supermarket then it's the enriched flour bread with cream & jam. The bread is done in a way that is quite dense and almost stale in initial bite, but soft and tasty otherwise.
@@iatsd in Wellington region the bakeries fry their cream donuts...only in South Island have I seen the literal normal unsweetened bread buns with cream and jam.
@@Kiwiamericans The reason people might get confused is because 'French fries' to us are the thin shoestring chips you get at McDonald's (we really only use French fries for American chains). 'Chips' tend to be bigger and thicker, and what you get at fish n chip shops, cafes, restaurants etc. These places don't sell 'French fries'
@@Kiwiamericans Mainly because Fries are different so you're probably ordering them in places that would have chips. Fries are more in American influenced places.
Hey that's a great observation on the odd things in NZ from you, I'm glad your both adapting to certain words we use here ..too funny😁..only in NZ. Love your guys review.
We have those toilets with the 2 buttons in many places in the US - at least on the East Coast. Also, I've been getting BBQ sauce on pizza for at least 20 years, especially with chicken and bacon. We have the little boxes in neighborhoods with books too - probably for about 10 years. Not weird at all. I'm curious where you guys are from.
I live in gumboots, and I would never wear them to a restaurant!!! Oh, well, with the exception of our local cafe because the owner doesnt mind all us rural peeps coming in for a late lunch or morning tea. We scrape them off though, we arent heathens ;)
I've worn my gum boots into town and on occasion to a restaurant, because I've forgotten I had them on. If they are muddy take them off at the door. Restaurants serve you at the table, cafe's do not.
See here in Aotearoa we're proud people and the reason our whenua remains so beautiful is because of the little things we do to ensure it stays beautiful. The small things in Aotearoa count because they tend to stop bigger problems from appearing, something America hasn't grasped.
Chips are potatoes cut like fingers, fried in hot fat, and served hot (they are not called “hot chips” - but rather they are chips that are “hot” - that is yummy, not cold or lukewarm). Thinly sliced potato which are mostly oil and salt are “potato chips” - although sometimes “chips” for short. Not “crisps” - that’s more British. There is normally no confusion as you have context. At a takeaway or restaurant they won’t be serving potato chips with your meal. At a party there won’t be bowls of chips scattered around the room to snack on. The only problem comes with the phrase “chip sandwich” - it could contain either. (However, a “chip butty” is always chips - not potato chips.)
So why not call gumboots rubber-boots? The name started way back with the Egyptian word kemai, which begat kommi in Greek, which begat gummi in Latin, which begat gum in English, a precursor of rubber. So gumboots it is.
The British call 'Gumboots': 'Wellingtons' (named after the successful general who defeated Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo - 1815 . He also became PM for a time), or 'wellies' for short! As for the other 'odd' things you refer to, most are applicable to Australia, as well. In fact, in the English speaking world, it is American/English that is decidedly odd, in my opinion! Anyway - fun video, ladies! Best Wishes from Sydney. DSW.
As a kiwi, something I find odd about the US is their obsession with imperial measurements, when the rest of the world has long used metric. What makes this really odd is that the US was an early adopter of decimal currency...
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp - fair comment, but then a lot of the world was still using imperial back then, including NZ. Later, NASA sent an orbiter to Mars, and got it a little bit wrong due to confusion between measuring systems... and a little bit of inattention to detail... www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-01-mn-17288-story.html#:~:text=NASA%20lost%20its%20%24125%2Dmillion,space%20agency%20officials%20said%20Thursday.&text=In%20a%20sense%2C%20the%20spacecraft%20was%20lost%20in%20translation.
Whearas the UK mixes both systems together. Beer is sold by the pint, butter in grams. Fuel by the litre, but fuel consumption is measured in miles per gallon (Imperial, of course, not US).
@@phoebus007 Same in New Zealand Stuart. Big screen TV's are measured in inches. Car tyres in a mixture of imperial and metric. Non-America's just can't get their arms around how expensive it would be to convert in a country of 330--million people like the US. NZ. With only 5-million people was easy.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp TVs the world over are measured in inches, as are wheel rims, yet the width of a tyre is stated in millimetres - all very daft in this day and age...
As an American who has lived in NZ for 12 years, all I can say is I'm happy you're enjoying the processes of enculturation. There are so many subtle differences between USA and NZ. Every year I gain a deeper understanding.
The main thing I've learned in 12 years is to not compare the US to NZ. The more I compared, the more I felt like an outsider. Embrace Kiwi life by not thinking it's cute or quaint or whatever, but by thinking that it IS normal life. I enjoyed the video :)
About flushing the loo. Sometimes in various parts of NZ there are water shortages. I lived on a rural block in the Wairarapa where we had tank supply (rain water off the roof captured in a large water tank). If it was an extra-dry summer we had to conserve water and/or get a water-tanker truck for a refill. The kids learnt that if it was "yellow" let it mellow; if its "brown" flush it down. BTW we know what French Fries are....Here they are usually the fine (string) fries one gets at McDonalds, Chips are the chunky ones from the Fish and chip shop.
It happened in Auckland in the 1990s. We had a drought where it rained most days, it didn't rain in the right place for the reservoir. The saying if it's yellow let it mellow if it's brown flush it down, was an official saying from local government, to conserve water.
the two buttons on thr toilet is an Aussie thing - there is no shortage of water in NZ., When I moved to Australia from Wellington 35 yrs ago I had never seen two flush options on a crapper toilet before. They're in NZ because toilets aren't made in NZ anymore
In California we have the little book libraries but you can keep the book. We also do a lot of the food behind the glass. And we do the have the honor system for farms (not as often though) but we have it here if you go to the country side
There is a saying that kiwis use in times of water shortages (summer or storm damage)... 'If its yellow, let it mellow. If its brown, flush it down'.. 😁 Also, I get it about the small things don't matter when you compare it to the big problems of the world, however let's consider that big things start from small things. If we overlook the small things too many times, they become normal. This leads to complacency. We're very relaxed people when it comes to important things, as you pointed out, BECAUSE, we take care of the small things first that give us trust in our way of life so we can be relaxed about the more important things. 😁
You ladies are awesome, things will only be odd if you move to a different country. The flip side of that those who never travel won't understand why the things they do, seem odd to other people. If a takeaway doesn't have a burger option complete with egg and beetroot on it, the takeaway won't survive in NZ. And so true about minor things, if you park 2mm (millimetres) over someones driveway for 2m (minutes) all hell breaks out, how dare you do that on MY driveway!
Fortnight is a contraction of fourteen nights as in sennight is a contraction of seven nights. While sennight tends in not to be in regular usage in more fortnight is in regular usage in NZ, the UK, Aus etc... When watching USA programmes etc... I'm like why can't they just say fortnight instead of two weeks its much easier!
The irony here is that this video actually highlights “odd things Americans do”… 😉
Haha yes… or don’t do but should 😜
I love ur thought pattern
Agreed. I’m American, but these two ladies don’t represent us all.
I had the best holiday in New Zealand…one of the best places I’ve ever been to.
Oh what could we do to be better citizens my sister, bleach our asses🤣🤣🤣
Excessive use of the word "odd" You seem to be giving your explanations of what happens in the good old US of A, a faint air of superiority.
You speak what's known as American English, and strangely enough we, as New Zealanders speak New Zealand English! If you want to hear really interesting (albeit irritating) English, check out the Australian accent and its usage !!
As a Dutch person living in New Zealand, I found out when I went back that I'm very appreciative of the friendliness. When you are here people ask how long you are staying. In The Netherlands they ask when you are leaving 🙄🤔
So true - I believe that!
We did that to the Dutch migrants in the 1950s - just to make them feel at home. The Poms too.
I am a dutchie myself and I am thinking about moving to new zealand!
Multicultural acceptances speak volumes in nz thats why there is so much peace here
@@c.j.m.mariaa there are many Dutch here ……I’m a kiwi made with Dutch parts, my parents came in 1951
None of these are odd, but then I am a Kiwi.
Yep that’s how we are 👌
Totally everyday for this kiwi.
British and none of these things are odd to me either!
Everything in this video is normal, but I am a kiwi tho 😂
"hay I am not odd, your odd" perceptive is key xD
Australia and New Zealand speak the Queen’s English. A hamburger is not a hamburger without beetroot.
As a kiwi I think it's worse that many Americans (and younger kiwis) use the word 'like' superfluously: and say 'bring' instead of 'take'.
The reason the man got angry with you was because handicapped carparks are only for use by those who are debilitated in terms of walking distances.
New Zealanders don't call potatoe chips crisps - that's what they're called in the UK. Kiwis call them chippies.
If wait staff are considered important in the US why aren't they paid commensurately, therefore not having to rely on tips?
Burgers with beetroot are called kiwi burgers. You usually have to ask for the egg or beetroot.
The reason water is self serve in a lot of places is because it is a legal requirement in order to obtain a liquor licence. Water needs to be easily accessible, readily available, and be easily seen by patrons at all times.
Yes, I really appreciate this in NZ cafe's. Also the coffee is the best I have had anywhere. We are mad about our coffee. The most terrible cafe will have barrista coffee.
If you live rurally in nz and are on tank water, to conserve water, "if its yellow let it mellow, if its brown flush it down".
Ditto in Australia when they're on tank water.
@@Luubelaar And even when not, especially during a drought.
And if ur really low on tank water and u notice it. Especially when ur visiting home after many years of being away living in the city or living away overseas U have to take a bath down at ur nearby creek or river like in the primitive ways that u remember the water being pass ur head when u were a little child growing up but now the water can barely pass my ankles 😂
You are so funny I really enjoyed listening to you welcome to NZ
@Delwyn Wellington 😂😂😂
As an Australian, none of that seemed odd to me. All very familiar.
Yes you and your NZ cousin are very similar! These are differences mainly between NZ and North America! Thanks for watching!
@@Kiwiamericans Of course there are, but thanks to Hollywood the American culture is very well known throughout the globe, just not in the reverse. I find it hard to believe there were kiwis who didn't know what a french fry was. Every maccas calls them that, as well as Katchup. I reckon you're having a lend... (jk)
@@Sydneysider1310 Australians are aboriginals and New Zealanders are Maori , culturewise both Aussies and Kiwis are similar right.
@@prathamkamath13 Not sure I understand your question. Aboriginal & Maori cultures are different, of course. The Australians & NZ's resulting from Britain colonising the two countries a couple of hundred years ago, or so, are quite similar. Our accents are slightly different but use of language very similar. Is that what you mean?
@@Sydneysider1310 yes boss .... Thank you
Street libraries are great!
Somebody was asked if they weren't scared somebody would steal the books and they answered:"people who read don't steal"...
The artists in New Zealand are just so fabulous! Glass, ceramics, weavings, paintings, sculptures, metalworks. I had a lot of trouble fitting everything I bought into our luggage.
We ARE odd and I love that about us. Makes me happy. Glad we're appreciated.
WE LOVE YOU
@@Kiwiamericans Thanks
@@Kiwiamericans Thanks
Kiwi
(:
Cool
I am a Kiwi living in Hawaii. Your collection of kiwi "oddities" had me in stitches. I had forgotten the idiosyncracies that were normal when I lived there. I so look forward to my next trip home soon. kia ora!
Yas queen
and here i am think they are weird for thinking these are weird cause there are so many weird things in the usa so its just a cultural thing i reckon
Im a Filipino and grew up "Sesame Street" English and basically US influence, and I can totally relate to you. "Odd" may not be the right word though, "different" should be fine. Do you "reckon" ?
Kia ora!!
Do you mean idiosyncracy
Kiwi English is closer to UK English than American English, hence someone from the UK would know what a fortnight was.
Yes and dating back before the treaty British we're the first white man here in NZ so we are highly influenced with UK English.
The gen z and younger gens are developing a more American accent and American English
I also think "togs" is English, a Canadian Navy Officer friend told me the word stems from the British navy. Togs might be like an old term form Mess Kit? "Getting togged up"...maybe?
@@AgoniesAunt The meaning of 'togs' in UK English is 'clothes' or more precisely 'good clothes'. Its meaning in NZ & Australian English is 'bathing suit'. Sorry, Kiwi English is closer to UK than American English, but not for every word and phrase. Getting togged up means getting dressed up in England.
@@margaretp1465Togs - getting changed into something different to everyday clothes, for sport or going out.
I think you’ve highlighted what’s actually odd about America rather than NZ but then again I’m an Aussie so what’s odd to you about NZ is normal to us. Australia and NZ are like siblings, we fight but we still love each other ❤️
Yes that seems to be the case
Haha 😂 “i reckon” that you should have a look at Australian slang. That might throw you off the boat a bit , but to us kiwis it’s just normal talk to us.
Bi weekly could potentially mean twice a week or every 2 weeks. Fortnightly only means every two weeks.
We are fiercely protective of our disability parking spaces in NZ. It's part of our collectivism.
Our credo is basically "don't be a dick"
I wish we where in the states.
@@betsyadams9670
Downside of living in the fast lane. We only do it as a last resort🤣
I know right, my opinion of her immediately dropped! What a sense of entitlement!
Yeah felt that way too... First few vids I enjoyed but more I watch her she's like in this Real Housewives of USA 🤣 you chose to move to a new country you adapt.
Just got to clarify - we don't poop on crosswalks. If our dogs should poop on the footpath or berm then we're required to pick it up and dispose of it (using a disposable bag) ;-)
You didn't mention how much better the chocolate is here than the US.
Particularly Whitakers.
Or our Ice Cream ...!!
You do know the US have good chocolate aswell
Going to movies in Randwick Sydney as I write this just bought 2 Whitakers dark blocks $11:50.
hmmm caramilk
Hey ! Dog poop is NOT a small thing! Have you ever stepped in somebody's dog poop? I HATE it when people don't pick up their dog's poo. New Zealander here! LOL xxx
Where do you live, Auckland?
@@faodail3913 no - Christchurch 🤣🤣
@@PorpandPinky Move south!!!🤣
@@faodail3913 why?
Yeah I agree. South-African here. I always carry poopy bags.
Another word we DON'T use in New Zealand is Handicap. We use the word Disabled. And also if you were parked in a disabled car park with out a card, even to pick up your child. Please don't this is a huge problem this disabled community faces daily.
You'll always be a kiwi if you love our Watties sauce.
Oh well Heinze own Watties anyway. 😆
It must be Watties!.
@@harrycurrie9664 wow didn't know that,came to Oz '89 and Watties bought Goodman Fielder and I know why "Goodman Fielder Watties" isn't a thing any more.
I rectum..
@@bb21again.67 Heinze needed an in to Asia as they were not well received there and Watties was strong, so they dressed their products as Watties.
Ex baker here. Donuts are made with a sweet dough and are often baked then deep fried. Tossed through cinnamon sugar then filled with cream and jam. Hot dog buns are just a normal white bread dough.
Oh yum, I love those!
Exactly
that subtlety of cuisine is lost on this particular american, who sounds like she;s tryring to" homogonise" subtleties/nuances here to fit her comfy yank monothought...." y'all" better get with it if "y"all" are staying !
In old days they were sprinkled with icing sugar, yum
tomato sauce is a new zealand cultural touchstone. of course we look at you weird if you ask for ketchup. generally you can tell if the chips are hot or cold based on context
I have been in places like Hard Rock Cafe in London, where if you ordered hamburger and chips, you would get the cold crisps, not the hot fries. Which was weird!
I’m a kiwi but I prefer Heinz sauce
It’s always been a mystery to me why no other country says or understands this.
I live in the UK and I get Watties Tomato Sauce delivered proper pies made by a Kiwi bloke here in London. Watties is the bestest.
One can turn any tomato sauce into 'ketchup' by adding vinegar.
NZ businesses pay wait staff with no expectation of tips to make up their wage. Tips are for excellent service rather than the business shifting responsibility for paying their staff to the customers
The term "gumboots" comes from the early settler days when a number of pioneers came here for the Kauri tree gum known as Amber which was very valuable. It was and is still used in a number of medicinals and polishes. The Gum Diggers wore "Gum boots" of course, or more probably "Gumdiggers boots", but shortened to Gum boots.
Gum boots is used in australia
Pretty sure they are called gum boots because they are made of the 'gum' of rubber trees.
We call them gumboots in Canada as well.
Wellies (Wellington Boots).
@@matttaylor678 If we called them "Wellington Boots", Aucklanders would complain lol.
I am a New Zealander. This was really entertaining. Never really thought of the the way that some of our popular phrases could be misinterpreted! Like others have said before, we know what French fries are. There is some truth in the observation that most people are very friendly but when some pathetic rule is crossed some people get quite annoyed. All in all , kapai, tumeke, sweet as. 😂
Ka pai Ross lobe the use of te reo 💯
Kiwis do know the term “fries” thanks to the likes of McDonalds
Yeah Maccas has fries. Fries are the thin ones and chips are thicker.
Yea people call meth fries in New Zealand as well
I still refuse to call their fish burger anything other than a fish burger
@nickyengelbrecht5114 Fries are all chips, thin ones are shoestring chips, fries is just what they're called in other countries such as America
"Togs" is short for the word "togeman", which was 16th century criminal slang for "coat". In the 18th century, "togs" started being used more generally as slang for clothes. In the UK, the word still just means "clothes", but in Australia and New Zealand, it came to be used in a swimming context.
Oh really - so interesting. Thanks for sharing and watching!
I have used the word since dot but always thought it was short for clothes "TO Go Swimming" TOGS. Not that it mattered much ... it meant the beach. 🤗
Yes, getting "togged up" meant getting our gear on, for whatever you're doing (getting dressed up). We also used to call 'togging' as a light woollen knit (which would be good for swimming in - at least would dry quickly).
@@harrycurrie9664 Thats brilliant!!! :D
...and then there's also Budgie Smugglers :-)
Cabinet food is safe here as we often make all the food fresh, early in the morning or the night before (depending on what it is)
Well, a beautiful little lemon tart I got in Rotorua would disprove that baked goods behind glass are made fresh daily, but I'm sure it was an exception. I didn't start to eat it until I got to Matamata, and I wanted to cry. I had anticipated so much how I would enjoy it because it looked amazing. It was so dry and hard. 😢 😂
I'm a kiwi. I can't imagine anyone not knowing what french fries are. Have they never seen a movie?
Some of these aren't applicable for all across the country, it definitely depends on what area you're in!
Also our jam doughnuts aren't just buns. It is a cinnamon cakey style doughnut. They're pretty delicious, just different. Definitely pop into a bakery and try this kiwi classic!
Cream buns and doughnuts are different things completly
@@robertmcgregor1514 you may be right in that she's encountered a cream bun rather than a doughnut. There's no way you'd confuse the two if you'd tried both.
I have to agree. This seemed more like rural nz lol.
some bakeries use buns, i ask if they're deep fried which is my favourite , filled with cream and a dollop of jam, scrumptious
@@taniagilbody1745 hard to find now with a lovely crunch to the doughnut on the outside and soft inside. I used to love them then. Now a lot of places put things in bags so you don't get the crunch anymore, very sad lol
Whenever anyone asks me if the toilet water spins in the opposite direction in New Zealand, I always say "No, because we don't waste enough water in the toilet bowl for it to even spin at all, it normally just gets sucked down into the hole without spinning." That always manages to blow a few minds. 😂
WENT YO USA '92,water in toilet was 3cm from the rim,thought I'd flood the hotel out every time I flushed.
Honestly, what is that about? I’m afraid to sit on the toilet to take a dump.
I was pretty shocked when I went to Hawaii (only place I've been in that part of the world) and saw how much water they waste in their toilets. And I felt like if I sat down too fast my bum would land in the water. Also, what's with the huge gaps around the toilet doors? I was making eye contact with people walking past :(
Right?? Hearing for years about the problem woman have, when the seat is up, and taking a dip in the water??? I couldn't get my head around that as our water level is so low - until I went to the US and saw it with my own eyes 😂 horrified! 😂😂😂
Ummm I am going to use that comeback
we are not odd, the rest of the world is odd lol, love beet root and all our strangeness.
We have a saying here... "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down" Usually it's old people who don't flush number ones because they grew up with tank water which runs out if ya flush too much.
I am a NZer living in Australia. I don't remember selective toilet flushing being a thing when I was in NZ. But when I arrived in Australia I was often told "if it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down". It's definitely a greeny thing - so wouldn't be surprised if its common in NZ.
Edit - just looked it up - it's actually an American saying! Came out of the California droughts apparently.
Couple of points, "fortnight" comes from UK English,and its used widely throughout English-speaking countries,I'm surprised its not in use in Canada. I've never heard "crisps" in use apart from British people,just thought maybe you know some Brits that have migrated over?
when I was little in the 1970's people used to say 'crispy chips' and 'hot chips' but not so much anymore :)
I've never heard crisps either, until I went to the UK and there was some confusion about asking for a pack of chips.
When you try a cream donut please don't buy it from the supermarket, try and find a bakery 😍
Yes and one with fresh cream, not mock cream. Yum!
A fresh baked bun load it with real fresh whipped cream, topped with raspberry jam and dusted with icing or confectionery sugar. Not deep fried. Yummm
Good advice. I second that.
Mock cream donuts are disgusting. Whipped chicken fat with powdered polystyrene.
@@marienz9555 they are not baked, they are deep fried. As are all donuts.
Think of beetroot as our pickle (gherkin) in burgers. It serves the same purpose, a contrast in flavour and texture. And note flavour has a u!
I'm a kiwi born and raised but beetroot on anything is just plain wrong! If I want to eat something that taste like dirt I'll eat dirt - It probably tastes better than beetroot.
I love the gherkins in McDonald's burgers nobody in my family loves them more for me hand them over
I love beetroot in burgers and I love gerkin/pickles too 🤣🤣I buy a jar of pickle gerkins weekly from pak n save 🤣
Talking of flushing...lived through drought and water crisis in Auckland (city got down to 8 days city supply left) ... anyways, there was a big water saving campaign.." if it's yellow let it mellow...if it's brown, flush it down" ... people also put bricks or full 2 litre bottles inside the cistern, to take up water volume and flush less ... or you were given a lead weight to put on the internal plunger... this would make it flush only if you held the button down.
Oh, and trusting the cabinet food- every food establishment has a grade (food safety, cleanliness etc) which has to be displayed for customers to see. Most have a big A on the wall.
Really interesting: I have started to learn English at school in Germany in 1964. The term fortnight was quite common to me.
I'm Australian of UK heritage. I hear fortnight all the time.
You have to realise these two are a product of American education system and the good old US of A.. this should help explain the fact they are not the brightest crayons in the box. They need our understanding and gentle guidance to realise that not everywhere is like America. (Thank goodness)
From an Australian: if you get paid fortnightly it's CRITICAL 😉
@@jaybrough4374 Yes, I noticed allthe bad spelling.
@@jaybrough4374 I'm American and I have heard, and use the word "fortnight" all the time. (not be confused with Fortnite :P)
So maybe it's just their inner circle/family or state even, that never used the term. 50 states, and they all operate a little different.
A New Zealand burger without beetroot is incomplete. I'm sure pretty much everyone in NZ knows what fries are, and only English immigrants (and some South Islanders) call chips "crisps"
Yeah na - chips it is it's only crisps if a foreigner is asking
I agree I don't enjoy a egg burger if there's no beetroot..& the egg has to be half runny at least..
@@pennyanderson760 I don't really eat egg (or yokum) burgers but when you do you have to eat them at home so you can wash up afterwards. That yummy runny egg yolk gets everywhere.
Nah gotta have eggs in it too bro...💯
I will never forget my burger in Arrowtown when the server asked if I wanted a pickle on it. I said “yes” but had the surprise of my life when I bit into a slice of beet root as thick as the burger. I wasn’t ready for that and I never been a fan of pickled beets.
Enjoyed your vid. When it comes to waiters and being waited on that not a big thing in NZ. People would generally prefer to do things for themselves if they can. NZ culture is not big on servitude or formality. Most Kiwis would not want to think they were putting someone out. when I lived in London I found it somewhat perplexing being addressed as Sir all the time
Not like I am Ed Hillary or something in NZ we prefer "Bro".
Being HUMBLE is a GOOD thing.
Yup I tautoko that. That's us bro.
When I arrived in a North American airport on my first trip out of New Zealand, of course I took a look as the toilet flushed, to see if the water spins the opposite way.
It did and it unnerved me so much I got dizzy and kind of half fell over in shock.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ah, but did you observe it many, many times? My Weather&Climate prof in college was teaching us about the Coriolis Effect and this question came up. He said that small bodies of water such as in toilets, bathtubs, sinks, are too small to be reliably affected by it. They are more affected by irregularites of the container and the drain. Sure enough, when I visited NZ I made a point to observe this and water did in fact drain both clockwise and counterclockwise. And that's my nerdy 2cents for the day 🤓
@@David_Rafuse I have read that same theory many times. But in fact, I observed water going down the "wrong" way over and over, each and every time I flushed the toilet in Canada, until enough years had gone by that I didn't notice anymore. Then I went to New Zealand for a holiday, and noticed the water going down opposite to the direction it was in Canada.
So either the theory is not quite on the nose, or all Canadian toilets are made the same way, and that way is opposite to how all New Zealand toilets are made (exempting the toilet you observed water going down in the way you were used to, of course).
Also another thing is we call soda or pop "soft drink" or "fizzy drinks"
I was surprised to see kids taking a lamb to school, for bring a pet to school day, and this makes the front page of the local paper.
There was a guy, "Jonesy" in Murrumbateman NSW Australia who used to walk his pet sheep daily. I met his twin in Illabo NSW and the first thing he said to me was "you'd know my twin, he walks his sheep every day" 😂
@@Rottnwoman it is a simplicity of life that seems to have been lost in the UK.
go to a pub when its wet....everyone is in socks and the entry is filled with pairs of gumboots LOL
What?! A pub in the country maybe....
@@haleyrichardson8818 most pubs on a wet day wont let gumboots
Potato chips are also called chippies, and when making your own kiwi burger be sure to buy a tin of beetroot (not the fresh stuff) for the burger lol
Or make a chippie sandwich! Yum yum. Don't put beetroot in it though. That would be odd.
Yes beetroot.Because nothing beats a root!
@@Murrray_Duncan Aksi kniwn as a 'chip buttie' which was priginally from northern England
Burgers should have beetroot but no pickles.
I don't even know what to say about this video. I almost feel like you've misunderstood the motives of people in NZ. Disabled parking is a big deal, very much a respect for others thing and NZers aren't fond of entitled attitudes generally. As far as restaurants and waiters go, some of what you said is correct but we have a huge range of establishments in different price ranges and styles so everything from takeout, to order at the counter and they'll bring it to you, to sit down and wait till the waiters comes to you, to seated by a waiter. A massive range but the part about paying at the counter as you leave is standard mostly. Similar with gumboots, this depends on your location and whether it's a city or rural. You don't wear gumboots in the cbd lol. Definitely tradies or farmers take off muddy boots though for sure.
Generally though, NZers are comparable to many other countries in our use of language, Americans I feel are the outliers more so. We were colonised by the British after all so there's a lot of similarities to be had.
I'll definitely be watching some of your other content, it's fascinating to hear an outsiders perspective on our country.
I must admit, there were parts of this video that irritated me - there's no need to mock their new country of residence as much.
She is a nice lady, but she goes on and on and on, about cultural differences
Yes i agree you should respect the rules for Disabled parking but tbh she just parked for one second not the whole entire day or an hour. Her son was sick so sometimes you should bend the rules. Dont you think?
60% of kiwis live rurally. We are outdoors people which is why gum boots are very practical. They are not worn by people in the cities. Calling your channel kiwiamericans is an oxymoron my friend. As for toilet flushing, a lot of folk are on tank water (catching rain water) not flushing for no1 is water conservation.
Odd is when you go to Disneyland in California, order fish and chips and get presented with fish and crisps/potato chips. Ha,ha! It all depends what you're used to. Most Kiwis would associate French Fries with the skinny chips you get at takeaway places like McDonalds.
It's funny when you grow up in NZ you don't realise how strange some of our slang would sound to visitors or people moving here from other countries. 😁All the things you mention don't happen everywhere in the country. Some are perhaps more North Island or more South Island. If you don't like something in your burgers, just ask for your order without it. Most restarants or Takeaway places will be happy to oblige. Love your shared videos as I watch both your channels 😀
Barely nothing was odd to this Aussie :)
I'm Australian and yes the majority of words you have talked about are common in Australia too and even in the UK as well as NZ. Fortnight is normal English, reckon is definitely common in Australia, we use 'whilst' as well in SA but not so sure about the Eastern States, (might be too many convict descendants there) and I believe togs comes from the UK and is also common in Australia but other colloquialisms such as bathers and swimmers are used as well.
Dual flush toilets were invented by the South Australian company Caroma , South Australia in 1980, and that's probably because it's the driest State in the driest continent. We don't wear gumboots to the shops ever and yes that's their name in Australia too.
I really my enjoyed my time in NZ, short though as it was, and same with the US, and I really do enjoy your show which brings it all together. I remember hearing you refer to American coffee once as battery acid or similar and oh yeah, I definitely agree with that.
Love your work and enjoy your shows so keep having fun, and just know you do make NZ sound wonderful.
"we use 'whilst' as well in SA but not so sure about the Eastern States, (might be too many convict descendants there)"....you south australians are hilarious with your non-convict thing ;)
@@newbris Glad to know we can be just as entertaining as the other States.
Quite right! Aussie and nz are very similar! Also though a lot of nzders wear gummys nearly everywhere including shops and pak n save 🤣🤣common in the far north
Whilst died out because it creates a sibilant problem for broadcasters.
Food from the cabinet is generally made fresh that day.
By law, cabinet food has to be fresh. If it doesn't sell, it gets dumped. Some places, if you turn up near closing time, will offer you whatever's in the cabinets at a reduced price or sometimes free - so it doesn't go to waste as they'll likely be dumping it in about 15 minutes.
Togs is from British slang, and New Zealand's English heritage is British. It used to mean clothes in general (perhaps from toga), but in New Zealand it became restricted to what you wear to go swimming or sunbathing. In the British Army it meant your uniform.
Togs is also used in Qld, Australia for your swimming costume.
Beetroot and egg on a burger is tasty and healthy, never seen beetroot on pizza though lol
Pineapple however ..... :-)
@@ivansk265 And Watties spaghetti.
Beetroot pizza lovely but stays really hot temperature burns tounge
Oh say it isn't so.🤢
Youre not the same Paul Henry as him are you? The TV one. lol :-)
If you think kiwis are OTT about small stuff and the rules, you should come to Australia. It's next level here.
Yeah, you guys are OCD about rules
Still gives me mental lemon sucking moments when I think about how insanely regulated Aus is and the combo of how accepting Aussies are to it all.
No one cares about Australia lol
@@tangaroastylesgraphixz.7779 I do. I've lived half my adult life in each country and on balance they are very similar except for the obvious stuff like climate and snakes (which btw I've yet to see one). Australia is no more "insanely regulated" than NZ.
Something I have never seen anywhere else’s..NZs bad house insulation was put to good use in the 40s. Hundreds of state houses were built and they had a hot water cupboard in the ones on my street. It was a cupboard with the back open to the water heater. It was badly insulated and the cupboard had slats instead of shelves so air could circulate. People would put towel”s and sheets in the cupboard to warm and finish drying.
It worked great.
Australia and NZ are VERY similar 😊
Speaking of the trust system, yes, it's awesome. We have people selling their home grown avocados during this time of the year and free lemons too. You just take whatever you need. My mum usually puts a dollar or two next to the produce to show her appreciation 😄
Love this! Thanks for watching.
Did not realize half of these things were considered "odd" I always thought its was usual.
We can all learn a lot from each other! I don't mean odd in a bad way - just things that were unusual to us. Thanks for watching.
@@Kiwiamericans Many are just odd to Americans. Familiar in the UK or Australia and other English speaking places.
When you are passing a primary school in a school days, you need to slow down even if that is not much traffic, they have cops or police watching and you might find a ticket or infringement of up to $80 which might also depends on your speed.
Also a school traffic warden might be particularly pugnacious if you stop your vehicle and obstruct other cars' line of sight. Also we get particularly annoyed by people who act as though rules are for everybody else but not me. Still, he shouldn't have opened your door. Sounds like you weren't the only one having a bad day.
One thing they do in the US that we are really bad at, is stopping, or, at least slowing down when passing a school bus.
Good job ladies. Well done on sharing part one and part two. Both were great. 👏👏👏❤❤❤
It might seem like such a tiny thing to winge about, but picking up ur dog poo is actually really important with regards to protecting the environment. All sorts of zoonotic diseases spread through them and Aotearoa's native fauna is already so delicate. It's also just gross, and I reckon alot of kiwis would be of the opinion that getting slammed for it in the local paper a pretty fair strategy to discourage it LOL.
In Australia and NZ, your American 'ass' is spelled and pronounced 'arse'. While talking nether regions, a 'fanny' is around a woman's front, hence the wide eyes when someone says that "she fell straight on her fanny". Whilst on the topic, you have already mentioned the NZ meaning of 'root'. During the Vietnam war, President LBJ addressed a large crowd in Brisbane Australia, thanking "all you Brisbane girls for rooting for our American servicemen". The applause was long and enthusiastic.
Doughnuts from supermarkets are always going to be bad 🤣
Good episode.
Not always true. Best dam donut I’ve ever ever had came from the park n save in Sylvia park in Auckland. They must have hired some wizard to work there, but their donut were NEXT LEVEL GOD MODE. Deep fried chewing tasty donut slathered in sugar and cinnamon filled with sweetened fresh cream. AMAZNG
@@angeladenton8765 wow sounds amazing. Maybe I should have used almost always
Loved your video - you both have great energy and great things to say and share!
Thanks so much for watching!
CHUR IRECKON YOU LADIES ARE A CRACKUPS AND HEARTYAS AND ENJOY WATCHING UM IN OZ CHASING DA COIN BUT YOU FELLAS MAKE ME MISS HOMES KEEP UP GOOD MAHI (WORK) CHUR CHUR AND KIAORA TO YOU AND WHANAU MY SISTERS OF AOTEAROA##
after checking with my baker flatmate, the sweet dough used for long donuts is essentially the same as for round donuts. recipe's may vary from bakery to bakery but pretty much the same thing.
Thanks for sharing!
Also, they're deep-fried, like the round do-nuts, not baked in the oven like hot-dog buns. I used to make them when I worked as a baker's boy. So they're a really light, fried bread.
As a Kiwi-type of a Wellington persuasion, there are one or two things I could quibble with (esp the idea we've never heard of French Fries) ... but that'd be a little churlish & mean-spirited ... this is a lighthearted & actually pretty complimentary video (generous to NZers) from two particularly gorgeous & charismatic American women ... what's not to like ?
I could not agree more! Thanks for watching
As a Brit who migrated to New Zealand there are many things that the Kiwi's have different names for. For example Gumboots (we call them Wellies or Wellingtons) , Potato Chips (we call them Crisps), Dairy's ( we call it the corner shop) etc etc It's a long list but doesn't take long to get used to it. Funnily enough when I went to stay with a friend in Australia for a few months, they weren't familiar at all with the Kiwi words, when I said "I'm going to the dairy" they all looked at me and said " A Dairy Farm" and they did call them "Crisps" , I found Australians to be much more European/British leaning towards how they describe things. That was an eye-opener.
Australians never say crisps. Its always chips.
Its just you brits that say that
In Oz dairies are Delis ... and a pint of beer is a schooner
*Regarding Beetroot on burgers in Australia*
Rumour is, once a upon a time Australians started putting beetroot on our burgers in the 1940s. It apparently started as a prank on US troops who came ashore for R&R around World War II - who were presumably horrified to have their burgers "stained by beetroot juice" and it just stuck with us!
Ok - totally want to to know if this is true!?? Thanks for commenting...
Definitely a good thing anyway as us nz love beetroot in burgers!!
@@juice8037 some Kiwi's. Not this one.
You know what's really odd? 'He was like...' 'I was like...' I'll never get used to that.
Yup, every other word is like this or like that. Obviously not taught grammar.
Onr thing I HATE about their Manglish.
Don't how so many Americans don't know the word "fortnight". It's the literal word to define a period of 2 weeks. Only Fortnight Americans know is Fortnite.
Also french fries. You must've got someone pretty unintelligent to not know what they are. Tonnes of us Kiwis call them fries as well as chips. At a Bistro I used to cook at we would have meals that came with "salad and fries".
Cabinet food here is always fresh and made that day. It's also almost always delicious!
Yes I have learned that lesson now!
Cream donuts are my absolute favorite Holly's backery make the best award-winning great service & made fresh daily.
The donuts aren’t actually hotdog buns, they’re just shaped that way. They’re usually a sweetened, enriched dough but they’re not as sweet as American donuts so I can understand what you mean.
Thanks. I was going to post about that.
The cream donuts where I am from are nigh on irresistible.
The "sweetened, enriched dough" is very soft and the cream is fresh. Delicious.
I find in a lot of bakeries they're almost a cakey crumb. Delicious though, a true kiwi classic. Also she bought hers from a pak'n'save so no wonder she doesn't like them, she hasn't sampled the real deal yet!
There are cream bun and there are donuts... The doughnut is shaped like a hot dog bun, but it is still fried and a doughnut, but there are also just normal buns with cream in them.
@@subculturenz The "shaped like a bun, but [deep] fried" I've only ever seen in fish & chip shops. If it's in a bakery or supermarket then it's the enriched flour bread with cream & jam. The bread is done in a way that is quite dense and almost stale in initial bite, but soft and tasty otherwise.
@@iatsd in Wellington region the bakeries fry their cream donuts...only in South Island have I seen the literal normal unsweetened bread buns with cream and jam.
We most certainly know what french fries are lol
I would think so but I have received some confused looks as well in some places! Thanks for watching
@@Kiwiamericans The reason people might get confused is because 'French fries' to us are the thin shoestring chips you get at McDonald's (we really only use French fries for American chains). 'Chips' tend to be bigger and thicker, and what you get at fish n chip shops, cafes, restaurants etc. These places don't sell 'French fries'
Some kiwis just be dumb my guy, its sad to admit hahHa
Aren't they called Freedom Chips in the USA
@@Kiwiamericans Mainly because Fries are different so you're probably ordering them in places that would have chips. Fries are more in American influenced places.
Hey that's a great observation on the odd things in NZ from you, I'm glad your both adapting to certain words we use here ..too funny😁..only in NZ. Love your guys review.
We have those toilets with the 2 buttons in many places in the US - at least on the East Coast. Also, I've been getting BBQ sauce on pizza for at least 20 years, especially with chicken and bacon. We have the little boxes in neighborhoods with books too - probably for about 10 years. Not weird at all. I'm curious where you guys are from.
😄 This is so interesting both of your insights, Thank you for sharing. 💞👏👏
I live in gumboots, and I would never wear them to a restaurant!!! Oh, well, with the exception of our local cafe because the owner doesnt mind all us rural peeps coming in for a late lunch or morning tea. We scrape them off though, we arent heathens ;)
I've worn my gum boots into town and on occasion to a restaurant, because I've forgotten I had them on. If they are muddy take them off at the door. Restaurants serve you at the table, cafe's do not.
The donuts make sense since American bread is so sweet.
See here in Aotearoa we're proud people and the reason our whenua remains so beautiful is because of the little things we do to ensure it stays beautiful. The small things in Aotearoa count because they tend to stop bigger problems from appearing, something America hasn't grasped.
Enjoyed your banter with fond memories.Looking forward to the unique oddities this summer.
Chips are potatoes cut like fingers, fried in hot fat, and served hot (they are not called “hot chips” - but rather they are chips that are “hot” - that is yummy, not cold or lukewarm). Thinly sliced potato which are mostly oil and salt are “potato chips” - although sometimes “chips” for short. Not “crisps” - that’s more British.
There is normally no confusion as you have context. At a takeaway or restaurant they won’t be serving potato chips with your meal. At a party there won’t be bowls of chips scattered around the room to snack on. The only problem comes with the phrase “chip sandwich” - it could contain either. (However, a “chip butty” is always chips - not potato chips.)
So why not call gumboots rubber-boots? The name started way back with the Egyptian word kemai, which begat kommi in Greek, which begat gummi in Latin, which begat gum in English, a precursor of rubber. So gumboots it is.
Thanks for watching!
Gum digging was a big industry in the colonial era, and you needed good boots while digging in the swamps for the gum...
The British call 'Gumboots': 'Wellingtons' (named after the successful general who defeated Napoleon at the battle of Waterloo - 1815 . He also became PM for a time), or 'wellies' for short! As for the other 'odd' things you refer to, most are applicable to Australia, as well. In fact, in the English speaking world, it is American/English that is decidedly odd, in my opinion!
Anyway - fun video, ladies! Best Wishes from Sydney. DSW.
Beetroot on burgers is huge is Australia too. Ham cheese and beetroot sandwich was my favourite lunch meal as a kid
As a kiwi, something I find odd about the US is their obsession with imperial measurements, when the rest of the world has long used metric. What makes this really odd is that the US was an early adopter of decimal currency...
Let us know when New Zealand sends a man to the moon using the metric system.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp - fair comment, but then a lot of the world was still using imperial back then, including NZ. Later, NASA sent an orbiter to Mars, and got it a little bit wrong due to confusion between measuring systems... and a little bit of inattention to detail... www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-oct-01-mn-17288-story.html#:~:text=NASA%20lost%20its%20%24125%2Dmillion,space%20agency%20officials%20said%20Thursday.&text=In%20a%20sense%2C%20the%20spacecraft%20was%20lost%20in%20translation.
Whearas the UK mixes both systems together. Beer is sold by the pint, butter in grams. Fuel by the litre, but fuel consumption is measured in miles per gallon (Imperial, of course, not US).
@@phoebus007 Same in New Zealand Stuart. Big screen TV's are measured in inches. Car tyres in a mixture of imperial and metric. Non-America's just can't get their arms around how expensive it would be to convert in a country of 330--million people like the US. NZ. With only 5-million people was easy.
@@DennisMerwood-xk8wp TVs the world over are measured in inches, as are wheel rims, yet the width of a tyre is stated in millimetres - all very daft in this day and age...
Ive been living here 20yrs now and none of these things ive noticed..no one says sweet as unless there 12..
As an American who has lived in NZ for 12 years, all I can say is I'm happy you're enjoying the processes of enculturation. There are so many subtle differences between USA and NZ. Every year I gain a deeper understanding.
The main thing I've learned in 12 years is to not compare the US to NZ. The more I compared, the more I felt like an outsider. Embrace Kiwi life by not thinking it's cute or quaint or whatever, but by thinking that it IS normal life. I enjoyed the video :)
Matt.. thanks for sharing and I totally agree about the small differences!!!
The donuts are fried not baked...but yes a sweet bread roll
Beetroot in a Hamburger - Everytime! I live in NZ so of course! And the egg too, yum yum
They're dying out in the cities in Australia. Used to be everywhere.
About flushing the loo. Sometimes in various parts of NZ there are water shortages. I lived on a rural block in the Wairarapa where we had tank supply (rain water off the roof captured in a large water tank). If it was an extra-dry summer we had to conserve water and/or get a water-tanker truck for a refill. The kids learnt that if it was "yellow" let it mellow; if its "brown" flush it down. BTW we know what French Fries are....Here they are usually the fine (string) fries one gets at McDonalds, Chips are the chunky ones from the Fish and chip shop.
Thanks for sharing - good to know!
It happened in Auckland in the 1990s. We had a drought where it rained most days, it didn't rain in the right place for the reservoir.
The saying if it's yellow let it mellow if it's brown flush it down, was an official saying from local government, to conserve water.
the two buttons on thr toilet is an Aussie thing - there is no shortage of water in NZ., When I moved to Australia from Wellington 35 yrs ago I had never seen two flush options on a crapper toilet before. They're in NZ because toilets aren't made in NZ anymore
In California we have the little book libraries but you can keep the book. We also do a lot of the food behind the glass. And we do the have the honor system for farms (not as often though) but we have it here if you go to the country side
There is a saying that kiwis use in times of water shortages (summer or storm damage)... 'If its yellow, let it mellow. If its brown, flush it down'.. 😁 Also, I get it about the small things don't matter when you compare it to the big problems of the world, however let's consider that big things start from small things. If we overlook the small things too many times, they become normal. This leads to complacency. We're very relaxed people when it comes to important things, as you pointed out, BECAUSE, we take care of the small things first that give us trust in our way of life so we can be relaxed about the more important things. 😁
Nice bit of thinking there 👍👍👍
You ladies are awesome, things will only be odd if you move to a different country. The flip side of that those who never travel won't understand why the things they do, seem odd to other people. If a takeaway doesn't have a burger option complete with egg and beetroot on it, the takeaway won't survive in NZ. And so true about minor things, if you park 2mm (millimetres) over someones driveway for 2m (minutes) all hell breaks out, how dare you do that on MY driveway!
Fortnight is a contraction of fourteen nights as in sennight is a contraction of seven nights. While sennight tends in not to be in regular usage in more fortnight is in regular usage in NZ, the UK, Aus etc... When watching USA programmes etc... I'm like why can't they just say fortnight instead of two weeks its much easier!
That's so interesting. I never knew fortnight came from that. Seems obvious now tho
Good to know - thanks for watching!
I live in Upstate NY and the produce on the side of the road with a box to pay can be found here. Usually excess produce is sold this way.
Awesome! I am from Saratoga :) Was born in Albany.
If tipping was a thing in nz I'd expect the highest quality of service 💯