New Zealand English is the one to learn if you're moving to New Zealand, studying there, or talking with New Zealanders. Most English apps use American or British English. Our English app comparison covers apps for any kind of English.
Bubblegum
For serious learners, Bubblegum is the best app to learn New Zealand English. You learn from New Zealand English you can mostly understand, which is called comprehensible input.
Tell Poppy, your AI tutor, that you're starting at a university in Dunedin. She writes a lesson about your first day on campus, at your level. If a word is new, ask her what it means.
To practice speaking with people, try a tutor or partner in Practice With People From New Zealand.
- New Zealand English is its own journey, with lessons read aloud in a New Zealand accent.
- Lessons use New Zealand spelling, like colour and organise, and local words like footpath and car park.
- Lessons fit your level, interests, and goals.
- Talk out loud with Poppy in live voice chat.
- Regenerative Review™ brings saved words back in new lessons, and you can export them to Anki.
- Clear, expressive AI voices read every lesson aloud, with a different voice for each speaker.
- The voices have Auckland accents, so you won't hear accents from other parts of New Zealand.
- Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read.
- Regenerative Review™
Mobile
Preply
Practice the conversations you'll have in New Zealand, like a job interview or a chat with your flatmates.
- Filter English tutors by country of birth, and pick New Zealand.
- Watch a tutor's intro video before you book.
MobileWeb
italki
Tell your teacher what you'll do in New Zealand, like study or work, so the examples fit.
- Profiles say where each teacher is from, so you can look for teachers from New Zealand.
- Book one-to-one video lessons.
MobileWeb
Tandem
On Tandem, you teach someone your language, and they teach you English. Agree on how much time each language gets.
- Find language partners who live in Auckland or Wellington.
- Trade voice notes, or talk over video.
MobileWeb
Other Apps We Looked At (1)
- HelloTalkChat by text, voice, or video with language partners in New Zealand, in cities such as Auckland and Christchurch.
English Language Partners has 21 centres around New Zealand, and you can join a class in a classroom or online. Classes are free for New Zealand citizens and people with a New Zealand resident visa. Some other visas qualify too, so check who can join for free.
ESL News New Zealand reads local news slowly and clearly, with easy words. Stories have a vocabulary list, and newer ones have listening tasks too. When you're ready for normal speed, RNZ (Radio New Zealand) has news, radio shows, and podcasts.
| App | Free? | What's Free |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | Free version | Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. |
| Preply | Paid | You pay for each lesson, and each tutor sets their own price. If your first tutor isn't a good fit, you can try two more for free. |
| italki | Paid | You pay for each lesson, and each teacher sets their own price. Practicing with the community and taking the level test are free. |
| Tandem | Free version | Signing up is free, and Tandem reviews each new member first. Many features are free, and Tandem Pro gives you all of them. |
| HelloTalk | Free version | Chatting with language partners is free. HelloTalk VIP removes ads and adds unlimited translations and more new partners each day. |
Try one lesson in your language before you pay.
| App | Languages You Can Use It In | Full List |
|---|---|---|
| Bubblegum | 74 | Supported language pairs |
| Preply | 19 | App Store |
| italki | 19 | App Store |
| Tandem | 14 | App Store |
| HelloTalk | 16 | App Store |
Which New Zealand English app should a beginner choose?
If you are serious about learning New Zealand English, start with Bubblegum. Poppy, your AI tutor, writes lessons at your level about things you like. To practice listening, try ESL News New Zealand, which reads local news slowly with easy words.
How is New Zealand English different?
Bubblegum's New Zealand English lessons use British-style spelling, like colour and organise. New Zealanders also say jandals for flip-flops and dairy for a corner store, and they use Māori words, like kai for food. A Kiwi is a person from New Zealand, so ask for kiwifruit if you want the fruit.
Can I learn New Zealand English for free?
It depends on your visa. English Language Partners classes are free for New Zealand citizens and people with a New Zealand resident visa. Some other visas qualify too, so ask your nearest centre.
Is Bubblegum free?
Yes. Lessons Poppy wrote for other learners are free for everyone to read. Custom lessons cost us money to make, so you need Bubblegum Pro for unlimited custom lessons.
Sources
- Bubblegum: New Zealand English
- Preply: English tutors (country of birth filter, New Zealand)
- italki: English teachers (Teachers from filter)
- italki: an English teacher from New Zealand (profile)
- Tandem: Learn English in Auckland
- Tandem: Learn English in Wellington
- HelloTalk: language partners in New Zealand
- English Language Partners New Zealand: learn English with us
- English Language Partners New Zealand: eligibility for free English lessons
- ESL News New Zealand
- ESL News New Zealand: About
- RNZ: New Zealand news, radio, and podcasts
- English New Zealand: An International Student's Guide to Kiwi Slang
- Cambridge Dictionary: kiwi (a person from New Zealand)
- Rosetta Stone: Learn English (Rosetta Stone English is American or British)
- Drops: Learn British English (Drops English is British or American)
- Memrise: British English course (Memrise English is American or British)
- italki: what's free
- Tandem: what's free
- HelloTalk: what's free
- HelloTalk: what the paid plan adds
- Preply: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- italki: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- Tandem: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
- HelloTalk: iPhone App Store listing (languages you can use it in)
