Story: English language in New Zealand

Word help

Word help

In 1896 Edward Ellis Morris of the University of Melbourne wrote to New Zealand newspapers asking readers to send him evidence of new words peculiar to New Zealand English. As he noted in this letter, many of the new words he was aware of were Māori words which Pākehā were using in everyday speech. His call for assistance was successful and he published a comprehensive book of Australian and New Zealand English in 1898.

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National Library of New Zealand, Papers Past
Reference: Hawke's Bay Herald, 11 February 1896, p. 3

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How to cite this page:

Dianne Bardsley, 'English language in New Zealand - Studying New Zealand English', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/document/40318/word-help (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Dianne Bardsley, published 5 Sep 2013