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Green’s Dictionary of Slang

jack nohi n.

[Maori kanohi, face; ? pron. of SE nosey]

1. (N.Z., also nohi) an inquisitive person, a ‘nosey parker’.

c.1940–50		postcard in DNZE (1998) 377/1: He was a regular Jack Nohi .
1988		McGill Dict. of Kiwi Sl. 76/2: nohi nosey person, often Jack nohi; from Maori ‘kanohi’, the face; eg ‘You bloody nohi, why don’t you get on with your own work and leave me to do mine in peace and quiet.’.
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl. [as cit. 1988].

2. (also jack) a look-round; a glance .

1973		Reflections: Voices from Paremoremo 32: Everytime his in-laws come around, if it wasn’t for a Jack Nohi then it was for something else [DNZE].
1976		‘Len Lacey’ [pseud. P. Gifford] Loosehead Len’s Bumper Thump Book 7: The Bok fullback Buehler takes a jack at the pill [DNZE].
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.

In phrases

have a jack (nohi) (v.)

(N.Z.) to take a look, to stare.

1982		H. Beaton Outside In I ii: Yous should have a jack at her diary.
1987		postcard in DNZE (1998) 377/1: What are you doing? I’m having a Jack nohi (meaning: I’m having a look, a poke round; being nosey). What’s that over there. Let’s go and have a Jack nohi .
2003		McGill Reed Dict. of N.Z. Sl.
2010		W. Ings ‘Trolling the Beat to Working the Soob’ in Int’l Jrnl Lexicog. 23:1 73: [O]n the street one might encounter a response to the attentions of the police in a loud... ‘E Poaka Hooer! Having a good Jack nohi? It’s all merchandise kare!’.