What is the linguistic term for the phenomenon where the short 'i' vowel in words like 'fish' and 'chips' is pronounced as a schwa (ə), producing 'fush and chups', a stereotypical hallmark of the accent?

• A The Great Vowel Shift
• B The Southern drawl
• C The high rising terminal
• D The short-front-vowel shift ✓

The New Zealand English short-front-vowel shift involves the raising and centralising of short front vowels — the most noticeable being the shift of /ɪ/ (as in 'kit') towards a schwa, creating the characteristic 'fush and chups' sound.