New Zealand Puts Limits on Goodbyes

While emotional goodbyes are common at airports, one airport in New Zealand is not having any of it.

Travelers at New Zealand's Dunedin Airport have a new three-minute limit to say goodbye at the airport's drop off area.

The goal is to prevent traffic jams at the travel center.

A sign warns: “Max hug time three minutes.” Anything longer and people should go to the parking lot instead.

The limit was put in place in September to “keep things moving smoothly,” airport chief Dan De Bono told the Associated Press. It was the airport's way of reminding people that the area was for “quick farewells” only.

The sign, however, has caused a big reaction on social media, De Bono said.

“We were accused of breaching basic human rights and how dare we limit how long someone can have a hug for,” he said. But others welcomed the change.

The signs were meant as a different answer to the problem. In Britain, airports warn of seizing vehicles with wheel clamps or fines for drivers parked in drop-off areas. Some British airports have fees for all drop-offs no matter how long.

De Bono said three minutes was enough time to “pull up, say farewell to your loved ones and move on.” “The time limit is really a nicer way of saying, you know, get on with it,” he added.

De Bono added that a 20-second hug is long enough to release the hormone oxytocin, which is linked to feelings of well-being among other things. Anything longer is just “really awkward,” said the chief, noting that there are no “hug” police.

However, visitors might be asked to move long hugs to the parking lot where they can stop at no cost for up to 15 minutes.

I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.

Charlotte Graham-McLay reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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Words in This Story

drop off –v. (phrasal) to bring someone to a place where they are going and leave them there to continue their travels

max (maximum) –adj. the most possible

farewell –n. wishing a person a good, safe trip

breach –v. to go beyond or outside of a limit or boundary

hormone –n. a substance made by the body that influences its processes