Definitely a lot of cultural influence historically from the British (as a colony), and more recently from the US (through TV/movies), as well as influence from the indigenous Māori language (especially in the last 30 years or so, where there's been a big push to revive the language and get words into use in NZ English).

But as for "weedwacker" specifically, I'm not sure whether this is normal terminology or not. I think the average person would know what I'm talking about, and if I was looking in an NZ shop I'd expect to see them called a "line trimmer", but I've never known anyone to actually say "line trimmer". But on the other hand, I don't remember ever having a conversation about them so I can't remember anyone saying "weedwacker" either 😆.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Weedeater is the one I usually hear.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What's the verb? "I'm going to do some weedeating today"?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Usually, yes.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago

On reading it back to myself just now, it did seem like a perfectly normal phrase.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I sell them for a living, and there's almost no consensus on what they're called. There are a few terms that are popular overseas that we seem to avoid for some reason (I don't think I've heard whipper snipper or string trimmer for example), but everything else is fair game.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago

I believe "whipper snipper" is a West Island term.