The Changing Face of Sex Tourism in New Zealand

Thanks to the decriminalisation of prostitution in 2003, New Zealand can now lay claim to some of the most permissive prostitution laws in the world. Prior to 2003, indoor prostitution was regulated by the Massage Parlours Act of 1978, which permitted brothels to operate under the façade of massage parlours.

Since the act defined massage parlours as public places, laws against soliciting in a public place targeted sex workers in parlours. Workers were required to provide names and addresses to the police. Soliciting, the operation of a brothel and living off the earnings of prostitution were illegal. While historically New Zealand held a high degree of toleration of prostitution, police raided brothels and private residences until the day before the Prostitution Reform Act was passed by Parliament. As of today, prostitution, brothel keeping, pimping and street solicitation are legal in New Zealand.

Like in many other countries around the world, Kiwi sex workers toil in a variety of capacities, including conspicuous street walkers, escort agency models, freelance workers and indoor markets such as brothels and saunas. Brothels and escort agencies are generally seen as offering a higher standard of service with a safer environment for both client and worker. A brothel may be in a commercial district, with visible signage, or more discreetly located in a residential area. Escort agencies accept phone calls and arrange for the model to work “outcall” at the client’s home or hotel. Entrepreneurs who do not wish to be employed may establish a one or two person brothel or agency, defined by the Act as small owner operated brothels (SOOB). They rely heavily on classified ads in alternative newspapers or internet websites, such as the Sexy Kiwi Girls escort directory.

How good is the sex trade in New Zealand? According to the United Nations report ‘Sex Work and the Law,’ New Zealand’s progressive prostitution laws promote safe sex and hinder the spread of HIV. The only other area in the region with relaxed prostitution laws is New South Wales – the report notes that both areas have “extremely low or nonexistent” STI transmission from prostitutes.

In fact, Dr. Mandeep Dhaliwal, UNDP director of HIV, health and development practice (and a female) says, “I would like to be a sex worker in New Zealand.” Empowerment and easy access to health services are cited as reasons for high condom use, particularly compared to China, Fiji and Indonesia where prostitution is criminalized.