The "Mary"–"merry" merger is possible in New Zealand, and the quality of the merged vowel is then (similar to in General American). However, in New Zealand, the vowel in "Mary" often merges with the vowel instead (see near–square merger), which before intervocalic may then merge with and so "Mary" (phonemically ) can be or instead. In all of those cases, there is a clear distinction between "Mary" and "merry" (regardless of how both are pronounced) and "marry" (with the vowel) on the other.