New Zealand · Phrasebook
New Zealand — Phrasebook for Adult Engagements
Essential phrases for navigating New Zealand: greetings, pricing, safety, and exit vocabulary. New Zealand primarily speaks English, Maori.
Currency
New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
Emergency
111 (universal)
Languages
English, Maori
Core Phrases
| English | Local | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Kia ora | KEE-ah OR-ah |
| Thank you | Ngā mihi | NGAH MEE-hee |
| How much? | E hia te utu? | eh HEE-ah teh OO-too |
| Too expensive | He nui rawa te utu | heh NOO-ee RAH-wah teh OO-too |
| No, please stop | Kāo, kāti koa | KAH-oh, KAH-tee KOH-ah |
| Yes / OK | Āe | AH-eh |
| Where is...? | Kei hea...? | kay HEH-ah |
| Beer please | He pia koa | heh PEE-ah KOH-ah |
| Water please | He wai koa | heh WAI KOH-ah |
| Excuse me | Aroha mai | ah-ROH-hah MY |
Adult-Engagement Phrases (Translate Locally)
These phrases need to be translated in your destination — most providers and translation apps handle them fine. Showing what you want communicated, not the local form.
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"How much for one hour?"
Negotiate full duration up front; "one hour" is the universal unit.
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"I want to use a condom."
Non-negotiable; if pushed back, walk.
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"Can I see your ID?"
Standard provider screening. The floor is 18.
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"Where is the bathroom?"
Useful at every venue.
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"Is the price all-inclusive?"
Stops surprise extras-charges.
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"I want to leave now."
Non-confrontational exit phrase.
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"Please call me a taxi."
Many providers will use their preferred local app/firm.
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"Thank you, that was nice."
Universal exit; tipping is bonus, not expected everywhere.
Pricing Tip
Always confirm price in New Zealand Dollar (NZD) directly, not USD/EUR equivalent. Tourist-rate providers will quote in your currency and pocket the conversion margin. Standard 1-hour pricing in New Zealand: NZD 280–500 for the typical band.
Related
Last verified April 2026. Phrases curated to match real local usage; pronunciation hints written in English-speaker phonetics. For full-language travel basics, the Tatoeba corpus (CC-BY) is a free open-source resource.