Not too long ago, real Kiwis greeted each other with a nod. Valerie Schuler sees how we feel about hugging a stranger
Free hugs? I'm suspicious.
Must be some sort of marketing campaign. Perhaps a school or university project?
But no. Hugo Will, 15, and his friend Francesca Stafford, 16, were bored during
the school holidays and decided Aucklanders could do with cuddles. They set themselves up on Queen St in the central city with large banners advertising ``free hugs'.
``It's been on our to-do list for ages,' says Hugo. ``We were inspired by a guy in Australia who gave away free hugs and was told by police it was illegal.'
The random hugging attracts mixed reactions.
A middle-aged Maori man comes running tod envelop Francesca in a bear hug, a giant, toothless grin across his face.
People are just about queueing up. Some go for the bloke-style hug, with a generous slap on the back. Others hold on tight and snuggle right in.
A teenage girl runs up and hugs Francesca. ``Yay for hugs,' she exclaims.
A removal truck passes by, the driver frantically beeping the horn and giving the huggers a big thumbs up.
A homeless man decides the ``hug ging station' is a good place to set up shop. He positions himself and his own little banner a few metres away, perhaps in the hope that the warm fuzzies will bubble over into generosity.
The hugging continues. People are beaming.
But some avoid the huggers.
A mother and daughter walk by. The young girl stops and looks, a bewildered expression on her face. Mum takes her arm. ``Hugs,' she exclaims, shaking her head. She walks off, the little girl in tow.
A group of teenage lads drag their mate over to Hugo and Francesca.
``Noooo,' he screams, as if he's being led to some harm. ``You'll have to pay me.'
He struggles loose and escapes just in time.
Older people aren't so keen either. An elderly couple strolls by. The gentleman regards the huggers suspiciously out of the corner of his eye.
A middle-aged businessman walks up. ``Is this some sort of experiment?' he sneers.
The holiday's over, it's back to study at Albany's Kristin School.
But Hugo and Francesca plan to come back occasionally at weekends to the same spot, at the bottom of Swanson St.
30 04 09
