As a Kiwi resident in England, let me say the English have no grounds to sneer; as a university lecturer I am constantly finding grammatical and spelling mistakes that would make my old Form One teacher snarl. "By enlarge" for "by and large" is still my favourite.

That's not to excuse anything. We just don't seem to value formal communication anymore, and that's a pity - my students get taken more seriously in a tight job market when they can communicate properly in their mother tongue.

Sorry there guvna...ain't nuffink can be done with us. We just buns and porters of em poor old cockies and allworks, from times long ago aye? Fings are a bit umpkey-diddlums here. But I's reckon you's a diamond geezer and not at all ikey ares ya?

Kiwis have a very limited vocabulary so visitors, keep it simple. Their sense of humour is often lacking as well, don't try to be funny or sophisticated, you'll draw blank stares.

I'm sorry to say Alan, that we largely have the Labour government to thank for the state of NZs education/literacy. Over the last decade they pushed very hard to encourage mediocrity in us. This way the idiots and underachievers wouldn't feel bad.

As you can now see they succeeded in their dastardly plan.

I agree our standards have dropped. As a country we have endorsed this attitude since kids are now allowed to answer NCEA questions in text language. I notice it all the time in Stuff articles too. Words will be spelt correctly but the wrong word is used in the wrong place. I guess it's just part of how our language is changing.