Te Araroa : Terms to Know Before You Go
by Lisa Allan & Contributors
The Te Araroa is an incredible 3000 km walk that stretches the length of Aotearoa New Zealand. Dan and Lisa Allan did the North Island section in 2021 and were oblivious to the TA specific lingo before they went. Along the way they picked some up… and created some of their own!
Please add to this list in the comments section. Suggest other TA terms you know of or have coined yourself. Please also suggest edits where you have more information to add to the terms listed here. We can grow this little dictionary together.
The Te Araroa (unofficial) Dictionary
B
Bath : [definition unknown] (Contributed by Dierk Meyer)
Bluebird : Bright clear blue sky weather. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
Bog : (British slang) Longdrop toilet. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
Bounce Box : A package of supplies sent ahead along the trail to oneself. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
Break Walker : Walkers who ‘break’ their walk, by taking a day or two off, and go home for appointments or occasions. They then return to the trail, and continue their walk. (Coined by Rob Firmin and George Mills in 2021)
C
Comfort Zone Breach : Sometimes shortened to ‘Comfort Zone’ or ‘CZB.’ This is a warning that is issued by a tramper when they’re walking close to the shoreline and a rogue wave threatens to get them or you wet. After hearing the warning it is customary to scurry away from the wave as quickly as possible.
E
Eats-anything : Someone who does not have any dietary requirements or restrictions.
Effer : (see also Purist) Someone who wants to walk every step of the TA. Origin- when Darryl Cash was up walking the TA up north, a Trail Angel offered him a lift. Darryl said, ‘no thanks I want to walk all the way.’ They said, ‘Oooh you’re an “Effer”.’ ‘What’s an Effer,’ Darryl asked. (Contributed by Darryl Cash)
F
Farkar : The alarm that is called out when a car is spotted in the distance on 90 Mile Beach. Origin — this term was first used by Dan and Lisa Allan after they realised how fast cars travel on 90 Mile Beach and how it is possible for them to sneak up and scare the pants off of you. Any resemblance to profanity is entirely intended.
FKT : (acronym) Fastest known time. (Contributed by Heather Grady)
Flip-flopping : A TA Through-walker who skips a section but doubles back to do it at a later date.
G
Gherkin : An unexpectedly and unbelievably hard part of your day’s walking. Origin — this term is a metaphor derived from the experience of finding an unwelcome gherkin in your burger. It was first used by Lisa Allan in the stretch of pine forest before Mangawhai Heads.
Gramma : Someone who is obsessed with reducing every gram out of their pack, eg cutting the handle off their toothbrush. (Contributed by Darryl Cash)
H
Hikers’ Midnight : 8.30pm. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
K
Koha : (Māori, noun) ‘A gift, present, offering, donation, contribution — especially one maintaining social relationships and has connotations of reciprocity.’ (Definition from www.maoridictionary.co.nz)
L
Leap-frogging : A TA walker who is walking the trail from start to end but is missing out sections, such as road walks.
Little Devils : (see also Sandies) Sandflies. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
Luxurious : (in reference to Through-walkers) Someone who takes all the luxuries on the TA, like a sleeping pad, stove, sit mat, or anything else that makes your trip more comfortable. (Contributed by Tamara Aberkane)
M
Minimalist : (in reference to Through-walkers) Someone who takes only the minimal amount of gear they need to get by. They may also choose to not take up any of the luxurious opportunities that towns may provide, like a decent meal or a room to stay in, which can also be called being self-sufficient. (Contributed by Tamara Aberkane)
N
NOBO : A walker on the TA who is north bound.
O
OSM : (acronym) One Square Meal, a formulated meal replacement. (TA definition) Emergency food, or just food! (Contbributed by Dierk Meyer)
P
Purist : (see also Effer) A hiker that walks every step connected. (Contributed by John Rhonda Stroud)
R
Ramen Bomb : The combination of instant noodles and dehydrated mash potatoes with any topping of your choice. BOOM! (Contributed by Marco Spinelli)
S
Sandies : (see also Little Devils) Sandflies. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
Shlorp : (shlōrp, noun) 1. The sound made when you pull yourself out of Taiharuru Estuary. 2. The sound made when you hike through Raetea.
(verb, to shlorp, shlorped). 1. The act of pulling yourself out of Taiharuru Estuary. 2. Having your double-tied hiking boot yanked off your foot by infamous Mangamuka muck. (Contributed by Dierk Meyer)
Scroad : When the road’s surface is like scree. Scree + road = scroad. Origin — this term was first used by Lisa Allan through the forestry road between Keri Keri and Waitangi.
Scroggin : A trail mix usually containing nuts, seeds and dried fruit, sometimes chocolate. (Suggested by Sarah Maybe due to her offer of ‘scroggin’ to some walkers from overseas being met with confusion and revulsion)
Section-walker : A TA walker who is walking a section of the trail.
SKT : (Acronym) Slowest known time. (Contributed by Heather Grady)
Slack-packing : A TA walker who has ditched their full pack.
SOBO : A walker on the TA who is south bound.
T
TAT or TA : Te Araroa Trail, more commonly abbreviated to TA, Te Araroa.
Te Araroa : (Māori) The long pathway.
Through-walker (also: Thru-walker, Thru-hiker) : A TA walker who is walking the whole trail from start to end in one go.
Trail Angel : ‘A Trail Angel is someone who provides an awesome service to a weary hiker, whether it be a spot to camp for the night or a hot drink, or shower, without an expectation of anything in return.’ (Def. from the TA Trail Angels Facebook page) Origin: USA.
Trail Kaitiaki : (English/Māori) Guardians/Protectors/Conservators of Te Araroa with particular emphasis on the walker. He tangata. For example, Rob Firmin and George Mills are kaitiaki of Te Araroa, particularly of their section of the walk, Ruapehu, Whanganui, Rangitikei. Origin: Aotearoa New Zealand.
V
Vegan : Someone who does not eat or wear animal products.
Vegetarian : Someone who does not eat meat.
W
Walking Bus : A big group of TA walkers all walking together. Eg: In 2020 there was a TA Walking Bus, a big group of TA hikers all walking together and arriving together at a campsite or hut at night. (Contributed by Dean Scott)
Whittaker’s : NZ Brand of chocolate. Support calories intake and mental health. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
Y
YOYO : A TA walker who, in one season, walks SOBO then turns around and walks back NOBO. At time of writing not actually completed by anyone yet, but given a damn good try by Tobias Peters who, having walked TA SOBO 17/18 season, then went back the following season to attempt the YOYO. He completed the 18/19 season SOBO and got mid-way back NOBO… Legend. (Contributed by Jules ‘Tiny Tramper’ Stacey)
Z
Zero Day : A day off from the trail with zero kilometres clocked. Can say “I took a zero at Arthur’s Pass”. (Contributed by Beca Feash Gaelic)
To contribute your term/s to this dictionary, please leave a comment below. :)
