# Hongi > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hongi > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Hongi.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongi > Source revision: 1343903214 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|Traditional Māori greeting}} {{italic title}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2013}} {{distinguish|Hāngī{{!}}''Hāngī''}} [[File:Powhiri, USAF.jpg|thumb|A [U.S. airman](/source/United_States_Air_Force) and a [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_people) warrior exchange a {{Lang|mi|hongi}} during a [pōwhiri](/source/p%C5%8Dwhiri) ceremony.]] thumb|upright|Two Māori women exchange a {{Lang|mi|hongi}}, 1913. The '''{{Lang|mi|hongi}}''' ({{IPA|mi|ˈhɔŋi}}) is a traditional [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_culture) greeting performed by two people pressing their noses together, often including the touching of the foreheads.{{cite news |last1=Salmons |first1=Matthew |title=Hongi, our national greeting |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/96504348/hongi-our-national-greeting |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=[Stuff](/source/Stuff.co.nz) |date=17 September 2017 |language=en}} The greeting is used at traditional meetings among [Māori people](/source/M%C4%81ori_people),{{cite encyclopedia |author=((The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica)) |title=Maori – Maori Culture in the 21st Century |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Maori#ref180293 |encyclopedia=[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica) |access-date=1 November 2018 |language=en}} and at major ceremonies, such as a ''[pōwhiri](/source/p%C5%8Dwhiri)''.{{cite web |author=Māori ki Te Whare Wānanga o Ōtākou|title=Pōwhiri |url=https://www.otago.ac.nz/maori/world/tikanga/powhiri/index.html |publisher=[University of Otago](/source/University_of_Otago) |access-date=1 November 2018 |location=Dunedin |language=en-nz}} It may be followed by a [handshake](/source/handshake). It is a unisexual gesture, although women may be greeted by the post-colonial practice of a kiss on the cheek. The receiver signals by leaning forward with their eyes closed. In the {{Lang|mi|hongi}}, the {{Lang|mi|ha}} (breath of life) is exchanged in a symbolic show of unity. Through the exchange of this greeting, {{Lang|mi|manuhiri}}, visitors, blend with {{Lang|mi|tangata whenua}}, the people of the land, and establish a connection. A ''[rāhui](/source/r%C4%81hui)'' (temporary ban) was placed on the use of the {{Lang|mi|hongi}} by some ''[iwi](/source/iwi)'' and ''[rūnanga](/source/r%C5%ABnanga)'' (tribes and tribal councils) because of the [COVID-19 pandemic](/source/COVID-19_pandemic_in_New_Zealand)."[https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12316071 Coronavirus: No more hongi or handshakes – Ngāti Kahungunu iwi acts to stop spread of Covid-19]," ''[New Zealand Herald](/source/New_Zealand_Herald)'', 14 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020."[https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/te-manu-korihi/410992/coronavirus-hongi-restriction-put-in-place-at-pohiri-in-wellington Coronavirus: Hongi restriction put in place at pōhiri in Wellington]," ''[Radio New Zealand](/source/Radio_New_Zealand)'', 5 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020. ==Symbolism== When Māori greet one another by pressing noses, the tradition of sharing the breath of life is considered to have come directly from the gods. In [Māori mythology](/source/M%C4%81ori_mythology), woman was created by the gods moulding her shape out of the earth. The god [Tāne](/source/T%C4%81ne) embraced the figure and breathed into her nostrils. She then sneezed and came to life, creating the first woman in Māori legends, [Hineahuone](/source/Hineahuone).{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Derby|first1=Mark|title=Ngā mahi tika – Welcome and hospitality: Origin of the hongi |url=https://www.teara.govt.nz/en/artwork/41176/origin-of-the-hongi |encyclopedia=[Te Ara: The Encyclopedia of New Zealand](/source/Te_Ara%3A_The_Encyclopedia_of_New_Zealand) |access-date=8 September 2017 |date=September 2013}} Some [iwi](/source/iwi) in the North Island's east coast prefer to press their nose twice, one for inhaling and exhaling each.{{cite web |title=How to perform a hongi |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/atea/12-08-2025/the-spinoff-guide-to-life-how-to-perform-a-hongi |website=Ātea |publisher=[The Spinoff](/source/The_Spinoff) |access-date=15 August 2025 |language=en |date=12 August 2025}} ==Examples== The {{Lang|mi|hongi}} may be performed by Māori and non-Māori, and between [New Zealanders](/source/New_Zealanders) and [foreign visitors](/source/Tourism_in_New_Zealand). Several [British royals](/source/British_royal_family) have been greeted with the {{Lang|mi|hongi}} during visits to New Zealand, including: [Charles III](/source/Charles_III);{{cite news |title=Maori warriors greet Prince Charles and Camilla in New Zealand |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/theroyalfamily/11982116/Maori-warriors-greet-Prince-Charles-and-Camilla-in-New-Zealand.html |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=[The Telegraph](/source/The_Daily_Telegraph) |date=7 November 2015}} [Diana, Princess of Wales](/source/Diana%2C_Princess_of_Wales);{{cite news |title=Remembering Princess Diana 20 years on |url=http://gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2968348-135/remembering-princess-diana-20-years-on |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=[Gisborne Herald](/source/Gisborne_Herald) |date=31 August 2017 |language=en |archive-date=1 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301124910/http://www.gisborneherald.co.nz/localnews/2968348-135/remembering-princess-diana-20-years-on/ |url-status=dead }} [Queen Camilla](/source/Queen_Camilla); [Prince William](/source/Prince_William) and [Catherine Middleton](/source/Catherine_Middleton);{{cite news |last1=Boyle |first1=Danny |title=Prince William shares hongi greeting as he honours Kiwi Passchendaele soldiers |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/10/12/prince-william-shares-hongi-greeting-honours-kiwi-passchendaele/ |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=The Telegraph|location=London |date=12 October 2017}} and [Prince Harry](/source/Prince_Harry) and [Meghan Markle](/source/Meghan_Markle).{{cite news |title=Meghan praises first female vote in speech |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-pacific-46008507 |access-date=1 November 2018 |work=[BBC News](/source/BBC_News) |date=28 October 2018}} [U.S. Secretary of State](/source/United_States_Secretary_of_State) [Hillary Clinton](/source/Hillary_Clinton) was greeted with a {{Lang|mi|hongi}} in November 2010 during her visit to [Wellington](/source/Wellington).{{cite web |url= http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL1011/S00038/hillary-clintons-first-powhiri-part-1-images.htm |title=Hillary Clinton's First Powhiri Hongi |work=scoop.co.nz |year=2010 |quote=Scoop Images: Hillary Clinton's First Pōwhiri Hongi |access-date=26 September 2011}} Former [U.S. President](/source/President_of_the_United_States) [Barack Obama](/source/Barack_Obama) exchanged a {{Lang|mi|hongi}} during a visit to the country in March 2018.{{cite news |title=Pictures of the Day: 23 March 2018 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/03/23/pictures-day-23-march-2018/ |work=The Telegraph|location=London |access-date=1 November 2018 |date=23 March 2018}} The {{Lang|mi|hongi}} is used in some churches as a way to share [the sign of peace.](/source/kiss_of_peace) ==Similar practices== In [Native Hawaiian culture](/source/Native_Hawaiian_culture), the {{Lang|haw|honi}} is a practice similar to the Māori {{Lang|mi|hongi}}, involving touching noses.{{cite web|url=http://wehewehe.org/gsdl2.85/cgi-bin/hdict?d=D4119&l=en&e=d-11000-00---off-0hdict--00-1----0-10-0---0---0direct-10-ED--4--textpukuielbert%2Ctextmamaka-----0-1l--11-haw-Zz-1---Zz-1-home-honi--00-3-1-00-0--4----0-0-11-00-0utfZz-8-00|publisher= ulukau HAWAIIAN ELECTRONIC LIBRARY |title=Honi|access-date=29 October 2020}} thumb|''Henge'do'' during wedding. In [Sabu Raijua](/source/Sabu_Raijua_Regency), [Indonesia](/source/Indonesia), a similar greeting involving touching noses called ''Henge'do'' is practiced.{{Cite news|url=https://travel.tempo.co/amp/870289/makna-di-balik-tradisi-cium-hidung-warga-sabu-raijua|title=Makna di Balik Tradisi Cium Hidung Warga Sabu Raijua|work=[Tempo.co](/source/Tempo.co)|language=id|access-date=2017-10-10}} ==See also== {{Portal|Society|New Zealand}} * [Cheek kissing](/source/Cheek_kissing) * [Eskimo kissing](/source/Eskimo_kissing), a similar gesture * [Māori culture](/source/M%C4%81ori_culture) ==References== {{reflist}} {{Gestures}} {{Māori}} Category:Greetings Category:Māori culture Category:Marae protocols --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Hongi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.