Kōrero: Speech and accent

The pronunciation of the KIT vowel clearly distinguishes New Zealanders from Australians. This vowel is famously expressed in the different way New Zealanders and Australians pronounce 'fish and chips' – a fast-food dish common in both countries. It is commonly claimed that New Zealanders say 'fush and chups' and Australians say 'feesh and cheeps'. This 2009 cartoon refers to a survey conducted by the BBC in the United Kingdom, in which the New Zealand accent was rated as the most attractive and prestigious form of English outside the UK.