Moving language around nationality

There has been a recent trend in Australia and New Zealand to start using slang language that was traditionally reserved for either the residents of a country, or as an adjective for characteristics of the nation, to start being used as slang for the country.

For instance the following are two ways of using Aussie and Kiwi

‘The Aussie team won another gold medal´

‘The Kiwi team scored an impressive goal’

‘Mark is an Aussie, but he’s lived in the UK for 5 years’

‘Shirley is a Kiwi but she married an Aussie, so now the kids are KiwAussies’.

However it’s starting to be used as a shorthand for the country, so as a proper (slang) noun.

‘Take a trip to Aussie’

‘It’s Kiwi favourite brand of painkiller’

It’s not exactly ground shaking, but it’s always interesting to see how language evolves over time.