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Saying hooroo-huroo-hiroo
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DescriptionSonja Macfarlane
Hey there - I am a coaster born and bread. My dad taught for 40 years at Ahaura School. John Bateman. I now live in Hamilton. Growing up, I remember everyone sayong “Hiroo” for “goodbye”. No one up here has ever heard of it! Hehehe
See also
https://www.pressreader.com/australia/australian-geographic/20181101/281973198653146
Hey there - I am a coaster born and bread. My dad taught for 40 years at Ahaura School. John Bateman. I now live in Hamilton. Growing up, I remember everyone sayong “Hiroo” for “goodbye”. No one up here has ever heard of it! Hehehe
See also
https://www.pressreader.com/australia/australian-geographic/20181101/281973198653146
From Facebook
CommentsTerena Molloy
I still say it all the time
Mark Murrell
Yes true coast but I feel at home here in qld as the true blue queenslander says hiroo as well.. have a cool day cheers m
Mel Higson
My uncle always says hiroo after I've talked to him, absolutely a true coaster.
Brian McIntyre
Yep Sonja it is still around even in Nelson
Karla Berkett
My hubby says it and he’s 30 definitely still around nelson
John Fraser
Yep you blokes and blokets speak a different language on the coast.
Long may it continue
Wendy Gilmour
I worked with your Mother for a while in a clothing store in Greymouth, Merika was always singing
Suzie Breeze
I remember an English maths teacher saying at assembly once that he had traveled the world and never heard of the huroo till he came to the Coast
Dave Ogle
Hi Sonja, I think around Hokitika it's Hoo- too
Did your Dad cut survey lines for a while back then?. I seem to remember him as part of one of the opposition gangs.
Dave Ogle
I meant Hoo- roo.
Jane Neale
Your dad taught our kids at franz Josef for a while. Great guy
Judy Bagnall
Hi Sonja. Think it was Hooroo. My uncle in Auckland had a book of West Coast sayings!
Wendy Bruce
Judy Bagnall yep it was ‘hooroo’.
ge
Judy Bagnall yes “Hiroo” is North Korean for hello
Wendy Oats
Horoo
Wendy Oats
Tony Fortune of Reefton says Hoo roo everyday on Coast FM. Our former north island neighbour's had never heard it. I reckon it came from miners back in the day!
Michael Kennedy
Wow he was the principal when I was there
Kirstine Latimer
Phil Bell-Marchant
Flossy Bell nana would say this all the time
Phil Bell-Marchant
Yes she did!
I never really thought about it until now that it's a coast thing
Paula Jones
Use to hear it all the time round the Manawatu/Horowhenua growing up as well and still hear it round Nelson.
Julie McLennan
Paula Jones agree. People always said it in Palmy whenI was a kid
Tony Nolan
Was your dad at Taramakau School, Sonja ?
Sonja Macfarlane
Author
Tony Nolan he may have relieved there after he retired…..
Bevan Climo
Hoo-roo
Sue Scott
My dad always said it and so do I. My kids a who adults laugh but say it back. No one unless a coasters says it here in Wellington either
Kaylah Maree
I'm 28 and I say it on the daily lol
Jason Smith
Your Dad taught me at Ahaura Primary
Jason Smith
Clearly remember his war stories
Angela Emmerson
I first heard it in timaru by an elderly chap 30 odd years ago and then didn't hear it again until I got to the coast many years later and heard it again and many times more by Brendon Cameron
Catherine Brian Denton
Good memories....John Trail and I used to socialise with your Mum and Dad when we were stationed at the Forestry office at Ahaura. John and I both married West Coast girls,so quickly learnt to speak the lingo. Bungies for Pongas and Bojacks for Pukekos for example.
Debbie Hills
Must have been a forestry thing as I also met John and Merika at the Ahaura pub when staying over there with FRI. Good Times.
Wendy Bruce
Catherine Brian Denton and you took us for table tennis. I still say bojacks and bungies; don’t forget taipos. Never knew there were ‘proper’ words for many things until I escaped the Coast
Barry Beaton
Hooroo!
Sharleen Hole
Hi Sonja!!! I say it all the time - spreading it over to Timaru. Kids in my class used to giggle, now they use it too.
Lisa Molloy
Mum also says it
Janet Sutton
Hoo roo was what I remember
Dianne Kemp
Haha Sonja.. yep Nana always said Hooroo and things were usually CORKER ( good) and GARK ( like a dent ) As in I put a gark in the car or wall .. we Coasters are a different lot you know ..
Wendy Bruce
Dianne Kemp and ‘dint’. You can always tell a Coaster by that word alone
Brent Steel
Very common in South Island
Carolyn Murphy
Hoo roo to you too.
Julie Ann White
I remember your Mum Merika she was a lovely lady
Carrol Hunter
Its our language, idioms of the south . .Along with the waving of the fingers off the steering wheel greeting when passing others on the road or waiting at one way bridges .
Cheryl King
Hi Sonya, so remember this saying and the word gark,we were in Auckland for 17 years and we sure got some strange looks with our words… back on the coast now/ normality
We
Cherie Liddell
Yes hooroo is very West Coast thing.. Judith Whitehead your big on the hooroo's
Alan Messenger
Another Coast saying is 'boya' and 'girla, instead of boy Jones or girl Jones.
Joycelyn Pulley
Yes we “coasters” have a vocabulary all of our own, we also say “ you know the daughter or son ‘OF’ ? Also a very West Coast saying I have been told about....lol now HooRoo to you for now
Chris Lemon
Remember hearing my grandmother say it all the time, I’ve never heard it in Hamilton or when I lived in Auckland and Whitianga as well
Mandy John Hodgetts
John taught me too, Hi Sonja from the Fosters
Kathy Duthie
yep hiroo they think thats strange in nelson
Peter Armstrong
My father in law Auckland born and bred used to say it all the time.
Lynne Simpson
My Dad was from Waiuta and always said it.
Yvonne Mirfin
Yes we still say that..I remember you all .I was Yvonne Donnelly from the shop..
GIF may contain Hello There, Private From Penguins Of Madagascar, hi, wave and Hey There
Sonja Macfarlane
Author
Yvonne Mirfin I remember Mrs Donnelly. And Tom. She had the best pies
Dennis Gibbs
I knew John during my years as principal at Moonlight and Ikamatua. The schools in the Grey Valley would cooperate for sports days, science trips and share ideas and inspiration between each other. Being central meant we often met at Ahaura.
Mikey Percasky
My Mum was a Woolhouse
We said it all the time in the 60s
Pam Englefield-Absolum
The girl or boy ‘of’ Smith. I remember your dad.
Colleen Rogers
We really had our own vocabulary on the coast hoo roo for goodbye and our version of names of places couldn’t pronounce Koiterangi for years
David Keane
Hoo roo
Bill Garth
Hi. Had a lot of contact with John whilst doing Natioal Service in the Army in Greymouth. John was an officer with Smacker Stanton Sergant Major Great memories
Murray Saunders
Not sure about others but the lads I hung with used to say boomer! and grouse
Alva Mundy
The coast saying makes me home sick
Vui Davison
Courtney Tommasi how good
Vaughan Smith
Hi Sonja. Check out the history. Your family tree. Merika Bateman. Tim. And john's cousins
Nova Hichens
I still say HooRoo, but I don’t say I must Lux.
Arlene Hutcheon
I remember my Dad saying it. He was born in Hokitika.
Sharon Pugh
Julie Broderick
Sandra Rooney
Sounds familiar, could have origin in maori or gaelic.
Christie Wilson
Rhonda Glasson how many times you've made me laugh with your special lingo
· Reply ·
· 46m
Col Mere
Ha I remember my dad used to say that. He was from arahura too
Donna Vincent
A wonderful man. John was the head master at Blaketown school where my boys attended .
Averil Thorpe
Yeh I have always used hiroo instead of goodbye when on the phone People wonder what you are saying and usually ask what do I mean Get quite a kick having to explain some times
Sue Vaughan
Hi Sonja Remember the saying well. Love hearing the coast language. Brings back great memories of so many people, especially my brother. He use to say it to me over the phone.
Mary Prendergast
They still say it.
Teresa Smith
John was lovely and Matt was one of my Teachers and Principal at Totara Flat
John Coll
I caught up with an old mate who had moved to Canada 38 years ago and he still said Hiroo when I left! Gotta love it. Ps I am the boy of Coll! Lol
I still say it all the time
Mark Murrell
Yes true coast but I feel at home here in qld as the true blue queenslander says hiroo as well.. have a cool day cheers m
Mel Higson
My uncle always says hiroo after I've talked to him, absolutely a true coaster.
Brian McIntyre
Yep Sonja it is still around even in Nelson
Karla Berkett
My hubby says it and he’s 30 definitely still around nelson
John Fraser
Yep you blokes and blokets speak a different language on the coast.
Long may it continue
Wendy Gilmour
I worked with your Mother for a while in a clothing store in Greymouth, Merika was always singing
Suzie Breeze
I remember an English maths teacher saying at assembly once that he had traveled the world and never heard of the huroo till he came to the Coast
Dave Ogle
Hi Sonja, I think around Hokitika it's Hoo- too
Did your Dad cut survey lines for a while back then?. I seem to remember him as part of one of the opposition gangs.
Dave Ogle
I meant Hoo- roo.
Jane Neale
Your dad taught our kids at franz Josef for a while. Great guy
Judy Bagnall
Hi Sonja. Think it was Hooroo. My uncle in Auckland had a book of West Coast sayings!
Wendy Bruce
Judy Bagnall yep it was ‘hooroo’.
ge
Judy Bagnall yes “Hiroo” is North Korean for hello
Wendy Oats
Horoo
Wendy Oats
Tony Fortune of Reefton says Hoo roo everyday on Coast FM. Our former north island neighbour's had never heard it. I reckon it came from miners back in the day!
Michael Kennedy
Wow he was the principal when I was there
Kirstine Latimer
Phil Bell-Marchant
Flossy Bell nana would say this all the time
Phil Bell-Marchant
Yes she did!
I never really thought about it until now that it's a coast thing
Paula Jones
Use to hear it all the time round the Manawatu/Horowhenua growing up as well and still hear it round Nelson.
Julie McLennan
Paula Jones agree. People always said it in Palmy whenI was a kid
Tony Nolan
Was your dad at Taramakau School, Sonja ?
Sonja Macfarlane
Author
Tony Nolan he may have relieved there after he retired…..
Bevan Climo
Hoo-roo
Sue Scott
My dad always said it and so do I. My kids a who adults laugh but say it back. No one unless a coasters says it here in Wellington either
Kaylah Maree
I'm 28 and I say it on the daily lol
Jason Smith
Your Dad taught me at Ahaura Primary
Jason Smith
Clearly remember his war stories
Angela Emmerson
I first heard it in timaru by an elderly chap 30 odd years ago and then didn't hear it again until I got to the coast many years later and heard it again and many times more by Brendon Cameron
Catherine Brian Denton
Good memories....John Trail and I used to socialise with your Mum and Dad when we were stationed at the Forestry office at Ahaura. John and I both married West Coast girls,so quickly learnt to speak the lingo. Bungies for Pongas and Bojacks for Pukekos for example.
Debbie Hills
Must have been a forestry thing as I also met John and Merika at the Ahaura pub when staying over there with FRI. Good Times.
Wendy Bruce
Catherine Brian Denton and you took us for table tennis. I still say bojacks and bungies; don’t forget taipos. Never knew there were ‘proper’ words for many things until I escaped the Coast
Barry Beaton
Hooroo!
Sharleen Hole
Hi Sonja!!! I say it all the time - spreading it over to Timaru. Kids in my class used to giggle, now they use it too.
Lisa Molloy
Mum also says it
Janet Sutton
Hoo roo was what I remember
Dianne Kemp
Haha Sonja.. yep Nana always said Hooroo and things were usually CORKER ( good) and GARK ( like a dent ) As in I put a gark in the car or wall .. we Coasters are a different lot you know ..
Wendy Bruce
Dianne Kemp and ‘dint’. You can always tell a Coaster by that word alone
Brent Steel
Very common in South Island
Carolyn Murphy
Hoo roo to you too.
Julie Ann White
I remember your Mum Merika she was a lovely lady
Carrol Hunter
Its our language, idioms of the south . .Along with the waving of the fingers off the steering wheel greeting when passing others on the road or waiting at one way bridges .
Cheryl King
Hi Sonya, so remember this saying and the word gark,we were in Auckland for 17 years and we sure got some strange looks with our words… back on the coast now/ normality
We
Cherie Liddell
Yes hooroo is very West Coast thing.. Judith Whitehead your big on the hooroo's
Alan Messenger
Another Coast saying is 'boya' and 'girla, instead of boy Jones or girl Jones.
Joycelyn Pulley
Yes we “coasters” have a vocabulary all of our own, we also say “ you know the daughter or son ‘OF’ ? Also a very West Coast saying I have been told about....lol now HooRoo to you for now
Chris Lemon
Remember hearing my grandmother say it all the time, I’ve never heard it in Hamilton or when I lived in Auckland and Whitianga as well
Mandy John Hodgetts
John taught me too, Hi Sonja from the Fosters
Kathy Duthie
yep hiroo they think thats strange in nelson
Peter Armstrong
My father in law Auckland born and bred used to say it all the time.
Lynne Simpson
My Dad was from Waiuta and always said it.
Yvonne Mirfin
Yes we still say that..I remember you all .I was Yvonne Donnelly from the shop..
GIF may contain Hello There, Private From Penguins Of Madagascar, hi, wave and Hey There
Sonja Macfarlane
Author
Yvonne Mirfin I remember Mrs Donnelly. And Tom. She had the best pies
Dennis Gibbs
I knew John during my years as principal at Moonlight and Ikamatua. The schools in the Grey Valley would cooperate for sports days, science trips and share ideas and inspiration between each other. Being central meant we often met at Ahaura.
Mikey Percasky
My Mum was a Woolhouse
We said it all the time in the 60s
Pam Englefield-Absolum
The girl or boy ‘of’ Smith. I remember your dad.
Colleen Rogers
We really had our own vocabulary on the coast hoo roo for goodbye and our version of names of places couldn’t pronounce Koiterangi for years
David Keane
Hoo roo
Bill Garth
Hi. Had a lot of contact with John whilst doing Natioal Service in the Army in Greymouth. John was an officer with Smacker Stanton Sergant Major Great memories
Murray Saunders
Not sure about others but the lads I hung with used to say boomer! and grouse
Alva Mundy
The coast saying makes me home sick
Vui Davison
Courtney Tommasi how good
Vaughan Smith
Hi Sonja. Check out the history. Your family tree. Merika Bateman. Tim. And john's cousins
Nova Hichens
I still say HooRoo, but I don’t say I must Lux.
Arlene Hutcheon
I remember my Dad saying it. He was born in Hokitika.
Sharon Pugh
Julie Broderick
Sandra Rooney
Sounds familiar, could have origin in maori or gaelic.
Christie Wilson
Rhonda Glasson how many times you've made me laugh with your special lingo
· Reply ·
· 46m
Col Mere
Ha I remember my dad used to say that. He was from arahura too
Donna Vincent
A wonderful man. John was the head master at Blaketown school where my boys attended .
Averil Thorpe
Yeh I have always used hiroo instead of goodbye when on the phone People wonder what you are saying and usually ask what do I mean Get quite a kick having to explain some times
Sue Vaughan
Hi Sonja Remember the saying well. Love hearing the coast language. Brings back great memories of so many people, especially my brother. He use to say it to me over the phone.
Mary Prendergast
They still say it.
Teresa Smith
John was lovely and Matt was one of my Teachers and Principal at Totara Flat
John Coll
I caught up with an old mate who had moved to Canada 38 years ago and he still said Hiroo when I left! Gotta love it. Ps I am the boy of Coll! Lol
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West Coast New Zealand History (6th Nov 2021). Saying hooroo-huroo-hiroo. In Website West Coast New Zealand History. Retrieved 7th Apr 2026 18:40, from https://westcoast.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/30340