New Coastie – Conversations with tradies

It has been a while since I have talked to my fellow Coasties through this column. I think it will be a fantastic idea to get back on track by telling you a couple of my embarassing builder and tradie stories. These are stories of cultural and language differences which I always find amusing. 

Some years ago I used to rent in Christchurch. I was still a new immigrant only a few years into my Kiwi life. One day, the landlord sent a plumber to fix some leaks and one of his workers, let’s call him Jono, was on a ladder against one of the outside walls when it started raining. 

“Is he going to be ok in the rain on that ladder?” I asked the head plumber with concern.

“She’ll be right, mate,” the head plumber replied with an aura of confidence.  

She!? I was so embarrassed that I could feel the heat as my face turned red. I immediately started to apologise profusely to both of them about getting Jono’s pronouns incorrect. The head plumber cackled loudly with laughter and proceeded to explain to me what “she’ll be right” really means in New Zealand vernacular. I was embarrassed again, but also relieved. 

When the recent lockdown lifted, I immediately called my builder to set up a time to complete the final work on my kitchen. He apologetically said that it was not immediately possible because he was “flat out”. Hearing this, I felt really sorry for him and offered my support by saying “get well soon”. Again, after a loud cackle from the other side of the phone – my builder explained to me he was not flat on the bed with sickness, but in fact was extremely busy. 

The most embarrassing moment with my builder was very recent when he told me the fencing job near my water tanks would require some ‘hard yakka’. I asked him if he could find the ‘hard yakka’ at Bunnings. I thought it must be some type of special wood used for the fence. Turns out it is just another phrase for hard work. 

If you are an immigrant, I will let you in on a secret. Conversations with tradies, builders, and construction workers is the best way to get a crash course in a country’s English vernacular. In no time you will be referring to wonderful things in your life as “choice” and profess your agreement with your friend by saying “hard out”. It does not make sense, but it’s the most wonderful feeling to be in on the slang. 

The construction industry is going through a tough time at the moment. High demand and supply constraints are affecting both the builders and the customers. So, whenever I see these high vis wearing linguists doing the hard yakka I always acknowledge them with an appreciative nod and a chur as a thank you for helping me fit into my adopted home that is the Hibiscus Coast.