A picture of a sign informing travellers of the affection allotment has gone viral on Facebook, where thousands of people shared their take on the hug crackdown.
While some people saw the humour in the light-hearted sign, others weren't very impressed.
One person declared the rule "insane", saying, "Now they are putting rules around farewells? Is nothing sacred?" while another commented they "Must have forgotten how to love".
Others argued that 3 minutes is an exceptionally long hug, with one person saying, "3 minutes!!! That's way too long. In Heathrow it's got to be 15 second MAX!!!"
The time limit was introduced to improve safety and congestion around the terminal, with Dunedin Airport chief executive Dan De Bono telling Radio New Zealand the three-minute cap ensured everyone had a chance to say their farewells.
"Too many people are spending too much time with their fonder farewells in the drop-off zone; there's no space left for others," Mr De Bono said.
