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Story: Speech and accent

Social class variation

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Though New Zealand is often thought of as a classless society, class differences are clearly evident in speech. The pronunciation of this National Film Unit journalist, who employed the British Received Pronunciation expected of broadcasters at the time, sharply contrasts with the Nelson apple worker whom he interviewed in 1964.

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Archives New Zealand - Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga

Reference: These New Zealanders no. 5 Motueka. National Film Unit, 1964

Permission of Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga must be obtained before any re-use of this material.

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How to cite this page

Elizabeth Gordon, Speech and accent – Variation within New Zealand English, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/40140/social-class-variation (accessed 5 June 2026).

Story by Elizabeth Gordon, published 30 November 2012.