This is interesting, I’ve always felt more or less uncomfortable with the ‘hug’ for workmates (female) unless I’m very comfortable with them.
The first Time an elder pulled this skinny white guy in for a hongi - it felt strikingly right.
I work from home most of the time, so I don’t often have this problem.
But in general, handshakes are the most common, nothing at all is now very common post-COVID, and there are only a very small number of men and woman who get hugs, after that one time I hugged someone who probably wasn’t going for a hug (15 years ago, and I still cringe).
I live in Australia now
Years ago, myself and a young Skippy friend were at a pub, and we got chatting to an old matua
When we parted ways, we shared a hongi. When he went to do the same with my friend, the poor lad wondered what the fuck was happening
I was grateful for a little touch of NZ. It wasn’t anything more than a couple of kiwis sharing a moment to remind us of where we came from, but it got a few looks from people in the pub!
As with all things, context is everything. Some yank in LA who went to Rotorua once and thinks that they know shit about us isn’t going to get the same response as that nice old Maori bloke who kicked my arse at pool
How about a nice “Hello” and no physical contact of any kind?
