Hug changes hands for $410 after internet bid

Warwick sickling loves nothing better than a good hug.

The Auckland man was the successful bidder for a hug, in an internet auction followed by more than 30,000 people.

The 31-year-old Ellerslie man paid $410 for the hug, offered on TradeMe by Hamish the Hugger of Christchurch, a 29-year-old social worker who works with troubled teenagers.

Mr Sickling said there was nothing strange about paying so much for a simple hug and he was planning to travel to Christchurch with his wife Tania to get the hug in person.

"I'm not sure when I will get down there, but it will probably be a group hug with Tania," Mr Sickling said. "The money is going to charity - I wouldn't have done it otherwise.

"It's a fun way to make a donation and it's going to children, which is even better. We love our hugs. I have quite a huggy family."

Mr Sickling - also known as Redpanther on the popular on-line auction site - logs on at least once a day. "I have bid for a few things I probably shouldn't have - it's a bit of an addiction I am going to have to curb." Mr Sickling and his wife will spend the weekend cruising round Rotorua on their new motorbikes - both bought on TradeMe.

Hamish the Hugger was pleased with the on-line bidding which skyrocketed from $1.50 earlier in the week to $410 on Friday night.

"When I saw it jump up from $1.50 I thought it was going to go really high - I thought some businesses might get in on it," Hamish said. "It went really well and I have a few other things in store."

Hamish said he too came from a "huggy" family and saw nothing unusual about hugging a stranger.

"Warwick seems like a really nice guy. It's all in good fun."

Hamish will be giving the money to the children's ward at Christchurch Hospital.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY