Lexical distribution

There are not many differences in lexical distribution of vowels between New Zealand English and RP. The most obvious differences are listed below.

basic               in old-fashioned pronunciation had TRAP in the first syllable, particularly in the                     combination basic slag; now FACE is usual

because                 variation between LOT, THOUGHT and STRUT

geyser                   always has stressed PRICE in the first syllable

gross                     pronounced with GOAT when a children’s term meaning ‘disgusting’, often pronounced with LOT by adults in other meanings

maroon                sometimes heard with GOAT in the second syllable

off                         a rare THOUGHT is still heard alongside the usual LOT

project                  variably pronounced with LOT or GOAT in the first syllable

pronunciation       non-standardly but frequently pronounced with MOUTH in the second syllable

proven                  often pronounced with GOAT in the stressed syllable as an alternative to GOOSE 

tuna                      frequently has no yod 

vitamin                  always has stressed PRICE in the first syllable

women                  pronounced as homophonous with woman, with FOOT in the first syllable

worry                     increasingly with LOT

yoghurt                  has GOAT in the first syllable

When French loan-words which have /y/ in French are pronounced in New Zealand English, the /y/ is replaced with GOOSE rather than with a /j/ and then GOOSE. So we find things like debut /dæebʉ:/.
 

There is a marked tendency to spelling-pronunciation in New Zealand English. Trentham is pronounced with /θ/ (although Thames, Thomas and Thompson are not); Davis will be pronounced differently from Davies; Catriona is frequently pronounced /kætri'ɐʉnɘ/ ; occurrence, deterrent with NURSE as the stressed vowel are not infrequent; Wednesday may still be heard pronounced with two /d/s. Many other examples are heard sporadically.