{{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 and a Māori warrior exchange a {{Lang|mi|hongi}} during a pōwhiri ceremony.]] thumb|upright|Two Māori women exchange a {{Lang|mi|hongi}}, 1913.
The '''{{Lang|mi|hongi}}''' ({{IPA|mi|ˈhɔŋi}}) is a traditional Māori greeting performed by two people pressing their noses together, often including the touching of the foreheads.<ref name="Salmons">{{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 |date=17 September 2017 |language=en}}</ref> The greeting is used at traditional meetings among Māori people,<ref>{{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 |access-date=1 November 2018 |language=en}}</ref> and at major ceremonies, such as a ''pōwhiri''.<ref name="Otago">{{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 |access-date=1 November 2018 |location=Dunedin |language=en-nz}}</ref> It may be followed by a handshake.<ref name="Otago"/> 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.<ref name=T/>
In the {{Lang|mi|hongi}}, the {{Lang|mi|ha}} (breath of life) is exchanged in a symbolic show of unity.<ref name="Salmons"/><ref name="Otago"/> 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.<ref name="Otago"/>
A ''rāhui'' (temporary ban) was placed on the use of the {{Lang|mi|hongi}} by some ''iwi'' and ''rūnanga'' (tribes and tribal councils) because of the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>"[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'', 14 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.</ref><ref>"[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'', 5 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.</ref>
==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, woman was created by the gods moulding her shape out of the earth. The god Tāne embraced the figure and breathed into her nostrils. She then sneezed and came to life, creating the first woman in Māori legends, Hineahuone.<ref name="Salmons"/><ref>{{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 |access-date=8 September 2017 |date=September 2013}}</ref> Some iwi in the North Island's east coast prefer to press their nose twice, one for inhaling and exhaling each.<ref name=T>{{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 |access-date=15 August 2025 |language=en |date=12 August 2025}}</ref>
==Examples== The {{Lang|mi|hongi}} may be performed by Māori and non-Māori, and between New Zealanders and foreign visitors. Several British royals have been greeted with the {{Lang|mi|hongi}} during visits to New Zealand, including: Charles III;<ref>{{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 |date=7 November 2015}}</ref> Diana, Princess of Wales;<ref>{{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 |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 }}</ref> Queen Camilla; Prince William and Catherine Middleton;<ref>{{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}}</ref> and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.<ref>{{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 |date=28 October 2018}}</ref> U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was greeted with a {{Lang|mi|hongi}} in November 2010 during her visit to Wellington.<ref>{{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}}</ref> Former U.S. President Barack Obama exchanged a {{Lang|mi|hongi}} during a visit to the country in March 2018.<ref>{{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}}</ref> The {{Lang|mi|hongi}} is used in some churches as a way to share the sign of peace.
==Similar practices== In Native Hawaiian culture, the {{Lang|haw|honi}} is a practice similar to the Māori {{Lang|mi|hongi}}, involving touching noses.<ref>{{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}}</ref>
thumb|''Henge'do'' during wedding. In Sabu Raijua, Indonesia, a similar greeting involving touching noses called ''Henge'do'' is practiced.<ref name="Tempo">{{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|language=id|access-date=2017-10-10}}</ref>
==See also== {{Portal|Society|New Zealand}} * Cheek kissing * Eskimo kissing, a similar gesture * Māori culture
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Gestures}} {{Māori}} Category:Greetings Category:Māori culture Category:Marae protocols