Where online can I find an example of a New Zealand accent (and not someone trying to mimic one)?

Here's a few YouTube vids that might help:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cr1TUE1doJ8&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zl6jBPyFlN0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlqWeKZvsHQ&feature...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ePwKYJcEOo&feature...

This is probably the "stereoptypical" kiwi farmer accent (which is what most NZers would probably imagine people from South Otago sound like), as used by John Clarke in a classic Fred Dagg skit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gvFxuqzn9E

and a scene from a movie with a young Temuera Morrison (which also includes a lot of colloquialisms)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QNr_77cboI&feature...

And Barry Crump - in this cameo as a Fish & Game person - is another example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNIVZsCh1QY

Finally - check out this vid from South Otago High School - you'll be able to pick up a few things about how NZers from South Otago talk:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OS2kgGC7xog

If you're still having trouble, why not contact someone from Linguistics at the University of Otago and ask their opinion on how you've written the way your character speaks - someone on staff will likely have studied the accent:

http://www.otago.ac.nz/linguistics/

Just download the news from New Zealand. Like any other country in the world, people who live in the country areas have a stronger accent than those in the cities. Or you could watch some episode of 'Outrageous Fortune' which is made in NZ, and is hilarious as well by the way, worth watching even without the accent research. Then there's Police 10-7. Watch a bunch of Kiwi telly shows, then you'll hear all the accents, not just the uni educated ones.

I think thwe TV1 example is probably a very good idea. I would simply suggest that you keep in mind that there is more than one New Zealand accent. People who live in places live Turangi or South Auckland sound very different to people who live in Southland or South Otago. The difference is to the point that the two groups even use a lot of different words when compared to each other.

I would recommend watching "flight of the Conchords" scenes (there's plenty on youtube). but if he's from South Otago you'll get it wrong.

I can't think of any way you'll hear it unless you find some TVNZ clips say from country calendar.

If you were in the UK I'd recommend posting an ad on Gumtree or something for someone from Otago or Southland. But seeing as you're in the US that probably won't work.

You could just make him form somewhere else.

There are little differences in the kiwi accent....except from Southland. Depending on where your friend is from, he may or may not have the southern burr ( where they roll their r's, its distinctive and easily detected by the average kiwi)...there are some "less educated "accents as well along with the more "news reader"accent.

on that website eg www.tvnz.co.nz or www.tv3.co.nz....on demand programmes like Shortland Street is used as having a good example of the kiwi accent.

i don't know the name of the video, and i wont be able to find a link...

It this guy, he's like in farm clothes.

I'll find it when i get home

Hey wait i'm kiwi! I have vids on youtube!!

Search CaptainRaison in the channel search, you'll find my channel with my vids... They aint that good, but i speak with a real New Zealand accent.

Click on a local video made by a NZ television station and listen to the accent. One link is provided below.

Howr ya going mate, all good Lets grab a beer,

She"ll be right, Back in a mo.

Get in behind ya dozy bastard, cripes coulda done the job meself.