Long vowels

A striking feature of the FLEECE vowel in both AusE and NZE is the evidence of ongliding; this is most obvious among speakers at the broad end of the spectrum. In AusE the GOOSE vowel is also diphthongized and in both dialects this vowel is considerably fronted (markedly so in Maori English). As mentioned earlier, both the FLEECE and GOOSE vowels are neutralized with other vowels before laterals.

Of particular interest with respect to variation elsewhere in the English-speaking world are the regional differences in the BATH vowel class. In Australia there is striking social, stylistic and regional variation between the TRAP and PALM vowels. In NZE the variation is less apparent; most New Zealanders use the PALM vowel in words such as example and dance (the exceptions are those older South Island speakers who use the TRAP vowel in the BATH lexical set). Despite the variation that exists within these two countries, this feature is considered another shibboleth to distinguish Australian and New Zealand varieties of English.

In both dialects there are diphthong variants with central offglides of the START and THOUGHT vowels. The NURSE vowel is long mid-high central; it is fairly stable in both varieties, although fronted for some broad speakers. In Aboriginal English it is often replaced by a mid front vowel (either /ε/ or /e/).