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Story: English language in New Zealand

Harry Orsman

Audio file

Harry Orsman edited the Dictionary of New Zealand English (1997), which recorded exclusively New Zealand words. This award-winning dictionary was the outcome of over 40 years of research into New Zealand English. Listen to Orsman talk to radio journalist Brian Edwards about the New Zealand use of the word 'bach'.

Using this item

New Zealand Herald

Reference: 12 July 1997, p. G2

by Martin Hunter

Sound file from Radio New Zealand Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero. Any re-use of this audio is a breach of copyright. To request a copy of the recording, contact Sound Archives Ngā Taonga Kōrero (Top o' the morning with Brian Edwards. 13/09/97/Reference ID36972)

Permission of the New Zealand Herald must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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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, https://teara.govt.nz/en/speech/40321/harry-orsman (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Dianne Bardsley, published 3 December 2012.