Minister of Conservation Nick Smith seems to have coined a new word.

At a Government media conference for its Fresh Start for Fresh Water programme at the Beehive last week, Dr Smith used the word gioodles.

The Minister was apparently explaining to a journalist why the government couldn’t introduce a one-size-fits-all national standard for water use and run-off.

Naturally curious as to just what the Minister meant when he used the term “gioodals of water”, Country99TV asked his office for the correct spelling of the new word, a definition and, if possible, a clarification of just how much water makes up a single gioodle unit?

And this is the response:

Gi-oodles: \Gi-OODels\ adjective

1. ginormous, a great amount 

History: This adjective first came to prominance in the early 21st Century after being used by the New Zealand Environment Minister Dr Nick Smith to describe the abundant supply of fresh water on the South Island's West Coast. It was mentioned during a major water package announcement by the Government that received gi-oodles of coverage in New Zealand media.