The news went viral across North America, Europe and Asia, and became such a witty yarn that London’s Heathrow Airport has cashed in on it and started offering its passengers "unlimited hug time" at its front doors.
The time limit at Dunedin Airport’s free drop-off zone is about improving traffic flow and safety around the terminal, and anyone wanting a longer farewell has been encouraged to find a spot in the paid carpark.
CNN included it in its weekly travel newsletter under the headline "Catch flights, not feelings".
The United Kingdom’s Independent site took things to a more serious level, noting that in the UK more than a third of major airports had raised drop-off fees (also known as kiss-and-fly charges) for drivers in the past year.
Heathrow’s kiss-and-fly charge is about £5 ($NZ10) outside the airport, but free at the airport’s park-and-ride transfer areas.
Recently, signs have started appearing around Heathrow Airport’s departure terminal saying "Max hug time, unlimited. Fond farewells in departures encouraged".
While some may be a little perturbed by the world mocking us, Dunedin Airport chief executive Dan De Bono thought it was "brilliant".
"We didn’t expect the media attention that the signage has instigated.
"Media all over the world have been in touch over the last two weeks, inquiring about the signs in the drop-off area of the carpark.
"We have given several radio and TV interviews, which has allowed us to share and promote our wonderful destination, and our new direct service connecting us to Australia once again from June next year.
"If one of the biggest airports in the world has taken notice of our signage and decided to leverage off the messaging, whilst charging $10 for anyone just wanting to drop passengers off in their carpark, that’s brilliant."
