Rocked the Nation - No 21: The New Zealand Accent

A Week of It launched the TV careers of several notable New Zealand comedians, among them the late Jon Gadsby. Poking fun at Kiwi culture and topical issues, the show resonated well with local audiences, a standout quickly emerging in Gadsby's gormless character Wayne. Though notable for his own whiny vocals, Wayne is perhaps most famously known for inspiring the classic Kiwi put-down "Jeez, Wayne".

– Excerpt from an article about New Zealand accepting its own accent onscreen, The NZ Herald, March 2017

The accent was indistinguishable from the whole persona. It was the voice of the suburbs basically, that hadn't been heard before.

– Actor Ginette McDonald on her iconic Kiwi "suburban chick" Lynn of Tawa

We approached it like a crooked tooth, believing it was something that could be fixed...

– Narrator Jacqui Brown on past attitudes towards Kiwi accents on television

I wanted to sound like her for years. I practised sounding like her, and then when I finally got to be on TV myself I heard myself back and I sounded terrible.

– Actor Danielle Cormack on idolising Radio With Pictures host Karen Hay

I love the New Zealand accent. I think it's one of the most hilarious in the world. And I'm really happy to see more Kiwis are sort of owning it.

– Oscar Kightley