New Zealand BANS a traditional Maori nose-rubbing greeting and handshakes at citizenship ceremonies amid fears of spreading coronavirus
- Handshakes and hongi greeting have been banned at citizenship ceremonies
- Greeting involves two people pressing noses and foreheads against each other
- Some educational institutions have already temporarily abandoned the gesture
- In Australia, people are being urged not to shake hands and refrain from kissing
A traditional Maori greeting will be banned from New Zealand citizenship ceremonies to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus.
The Auckland Council announced it was taking preventive measures in light of the deadly outbreak by getting rid of handshakes as well as the ‘hongi’ – which involves two people pressing their noses together as a greeting.
The gesture is traditionally made between an official and new citizens before they are given their citizenship certificate.
Henderson-Massey Local Board chairman Chris Carter told Stuff the move wouldn’t take away from the significance of the ceremony.
Auckland Council announced it will omit the hongi (Jacinda Ardern greeting someone with a hongi pictured) – which involves two people pressing their noses together – at citizenship ceremonies, in light of the health crisis
Handshakes have also been banned to reduce the risk of contracting coronavirus
‘There are other ways one can show respect without having to shake someone’s hand or perform a hongi,’ he said.
Some educational institutions in New Zealand have already temporarily abandoned the gesture as the country ramps up efforts to stop the spread of the disease – which has killed 4,300 worldwide.
Wellington polytechnic WelTec said that instead of staff greeting new students with a hongi, its welcome ceremony would instead include a waiata, or Maori song.
Elsewhere around the world people are changing their habits at work, home and in worship in fears of spreading the disease.
In Australia, New South Wales Health Minister Brad Hazzard urged people to kiss with caution and suggested a pat on the back instead of a handshake.
‘It’s a very Australian thing to put your hand out to shake hands, for example. I would be suggesting to the community… it’s time that Aussies actually gave each other a pat on the back for the time being – no handshaking,’ he said.
‘There are other things that can be done – I’m not going to say don’t kiss, but certainly you could be exercising a degree of care and caution with who you choose to kiss.’
French etiquette expert Philippe Lichtfus has suggested that instead of a peck on the cheek, simply looking into a person’s eyes can suffice as a greeting