do you think New Zealanders are hard to understand?

Question

I can't understand a word.

I'm from British Columbia, Canada

Answer 1

New Zealanders aren't hard to understand, We do talk fast as opposed to Americans and Canadians who speak slowly,

I think the reason Americans find us hard to understand is that they are never exposed to our accent or many others through TV, movies etc. I admit our vowel sounds do get confusing, but whose English is correct?

Answer 2

I am a New Zealander and work in tourism and find that most people understand us perfectly fine....the only ones that don't understand us easily are Americans!
We do speak quite fast so I am told.... but as I said before I only ever have to repeat myself 10x to Americans......every other person I talk too doesn't seem to have a problem.

Answer 3

Where are you from? I am a New Zealander, I lived in NC for a year, travelled to 21 states, and had absolutely NO problem talking to anyone. Maybe you need to get a hearing aid?

Answer 4

It all depends on where you are from, and where they are from in NZ. Some may speak slowly and with an educated background, and others well, they might be a bit hard to understand.

Answer 5

I can't tell them apart from the Aussies, unless I hear the famous "fush 'n chups"

Answer 6

Are you American? they speak english you know, maybe you need to get out a bit.

Answer 7

open your ears mate, they're quite easy to understand and are some of the nicest people to understand ever.

cheers.

Mitch/Laura

Answer 8

Then you should open your ears.

I find them delightful and fun, and I wouldn't have that impression if I couldn't understand them.

Answer 9

OMG, I love there accent it is almost as good as the Aussie accent! ;o)

Answer 10

Actually, you could probably understand them if they ever said anything sensible.