The Hongi, a traditional Māori greeting, involves two people pressing their noses together. This originates from Māori legend, where the God of Creation (Tāne), breathed life into the earth’s first woman (Hineahuone) in this manner.
The ‘Hongi’ is a traditional Maori greeting in New Zealand used by the Maori people. To hongi you press your nose and forehead together with the nose and forehead of the person you are greeting. Many people of Maori decent prefer to hongi, instead of shaking hands.
Although at important ceremonies a hongi will also be given with a handshake as a way to make people of all cultures attending feel welcome. It is not unusual to see people, young and old, male and female, hongi when they meet in every day situations. The greeting is not reserved for traditional or cultural meetings, it is a natural part of everyday life. Especially for those connected to their Maori heritage.
The origins of the hongi can be traced back in Maori folklore to the creation of mankind. The first woman created by the gods was Hineahuone, “earth formed woman” so called as she was shaped out of the earth. The god Tane embraced Hineahuone and breathed life into her nostrils.
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. Through the exchange of this physical greeting, one is no longer considered manuhiri (“a visitor”) but rather tangata whenua, “one of the people of the land”.
The hongi is the Mãori welcome expressed by the rubbing or touching of noses, something akin to the Western custom of kissing someone by way of greeting; however, the hongi is a gesture that carries far more significance.
The hongi is a New Zealand tradition that stems from an age-old Mãori legend that depicted how women were created. According to legend, woman’s shape was molded from the earth by the gods, yet it had no life until the God Tãne breathed into the molded figure’s nostrils and embraced the gorgeous figure. After breathing into her nostrils the female sneezed and came to life. The female figure was then given the name Hineahuone, roughly translated to “earth-made woman.”
The tradition resonating behind the hongi dates back to the Mãori origins of the country and is a quintessential aspect of New Zealand’s culture. If you’re visiting New Zealand and are approached to participate in this sacred and noble gesture, you should always accept on account of the inherent meaning that comes with it.
Becoming a “Tangata Whenua” as a Visitor
Should the hongi be performed with you as a visitor, this signifies that you are no longer a mere visitor, you are a tangata whenua, which essentially means that you are to be unified with those performing the hongi with you.
The meaning of hongi roughly translates to the “sharing of breath,” which is a fairly significant gesture. Once a visitor, also referred to as a manuhiri, enacts the hongi with a local, a sense of responsibility is also imparted to that individual about their place in the delicate ecosystem of the island.
To display your newfound sense of responsibility, you as a newly appointed tangata whenua may be required to partake in some tasks illustrating your loyalty and appreciation for the land itself.
In older times, this would have included such tasks as bearing arms in order to defend your people and tending to crops, but now a newly appointed tangata whenua is still required to share in personal responsibilities like leaving no trace on the island and respecting its natural beauty.
Performing the Hongi Correctly
The hongi, or the “sharing of breath,” is a sacred and revered act that is typically displayed in a very distinctive manner: A physical exchange where two people press their noses against one another’s.
By having friends greet each other within such an intimate space, the hongi represents an action that is more powerful than a mere handshake. By greeting one another at such a close distance, the participants both exchange breath, sharing in the very essence of living with one another.
If you’re lucky enough to partake in the sacred act of sharing the breath, remember that the hongi one that actively resonates with Mãori locals and results in you having an experience that is far elevated from that which a mere tourist or visitor may have. By partaking in the hongi, not only are Mãori people officially welcoming you but also you are taking on a great responsibility.
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