Officials at the airport on New Zealand's South Island have brought in the policy to allow more passengers to greet or say goodbye to loved ones but it has been criticised as "inhumane".

An airport in New Zealand has limited hugging in its drop-off zone to a maximum of three minutes - with anyone wanting a longer goodbye told to head for the car park.

Dunedin International Airport, on New Zealand’s South Island, announced the rule change last month as part of a broader effort to improve safety and keep traffic flowing in the zone, local media reported.

Signs have gone up informing people sending off their loved ones that the new rule is “Max hug time three minutes” or “It’s hard to say goodbye so make it quick. 3 minutes max”.

They replaced the previous signs which only reminded drivers that cars left unattended would risk being clamped and charged NZ$70, Stuff reported.

  • @ogeistEnglish
    18•2 months ago

    Thus ensuring that now all hugs will last 3 mins per person.

    • Flying SquidMEnglish
      8•2 months ago

      Will they? I can’t imagine hugging someone for 3 minutes at an airport. Including my wife and daughter. You set a timer for 3 minutes and hug a pillow. You’ll get tired of it pretty quickly.

      I mean it obviously happens or they wouldn’t do it, but a 3 minute hug is a crazy long hug.

      • @[email protected]English
        18•2 months ago

        It’s not literally hugs, it’s saying goodbyes generally. They’re just being a bit silly about it.

        • Flying SquidMEnglish
          3•2 months ago

          Well that makes more sense. Thank you.

      • @ogeistEnglish
        8•2 months ago

        Hahaha I was thinking about my wife when I wrote my comment, my train of thought was in the direction of “I’m breaking the law to show you that I love you by hugging you more than 3 mins”, ladies like bad boys.

        Also 3 mins is not that much when saying the well wishes while hugging.

        • Flying SquidMEnglish
          2•2 months ago

          You apparently missed this part of my post:

          Including my wife and daughter.

          I’ve been married 24 years, how about you?

            • @[email protected]English
              2•2 months ago

              No i meant to reply to FlyingSquid. They said 3 minutes is too long to hug a pillow. But my point is if you’re going away for a long time 3 minutes with your wife and kids doesn’t even begin to be enough.

          • @[email protected]English
            2•2 months ago

            I am married 4 years and even I think 3 minutes is not enough. How do you recon you are fine with 3 minutes? Its nothing when you have to be away for a long time… unless you’re used to this kind of lifestyle then I can understand that you and your loved ones are used to it.

            • Flying SquidMEnglish
              1•2 months ago

              Because 3 minutes is a really long time to hug someone?

      • TimeSquirrel
        1•2 months ago

        There’s a bit of difference between someone you love and a pillow.

        • Flying SquidMEnglish
          1•2 months ago

          I’m just talking about in terms of timing so you can figure out how long that would take.