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Selling Sex Legally in New Zealand

Tue, 03/17/2009 - 13:55
Submitted by Carlin Ross

This is a very interesting piece on the decriminalization of prostitution in New Zealand by the BBC.  While the rest of Europe including Amsterdam is looking to regulate and criminalize sex work, New Zealand stands out as the perfect case study on this controversial topic having decrimimalized sex work back in 2003.

Betty and I believe that sex work should be legal, regulated, and taxed.  What I loved about this article is that it featured several women who loved being sex workers.  There are people out there with the capacity to share their divinity with others and do so without guilt or shame.  Not all sex workers are drug addicts or abuse survivors.  

There was a time when sex wasn't driven underground by the religious right yet capitalized upon by corporate Amercia creating contempt and disrespect for this most basic human need.  There was a time when sex work was exalted and we went to the temples to seek such comfort.  And thank you, Annie Sprinkle, for this amazing picture ;)

Sex, Politics & More Sex

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New Zealand

Thu, 03/19/2009 - 06:58
gjkiwi

Hi Carlin,

New Zealand has quite liberal laws on Prostitution.  As noted however, people don't actually advertise the fact that they either use the services or provide them.  That being said, there are many other private things that we do that we don't proclaim to the world either.  New Zealand also has quite liberal laws with regard to gays, which allows civil unions for gay couples, and interestingly, in both cases, the legislation was introduced by a gay male MP. Tim Barnett.  This doesn't mean that all in New Zealand are liberal minded. 

The interesting comparison between New Zealand and say, Sweden is that, in New Zealand we focus on the true criminals, say those who traffic drugs and leave the so-called victimless crimes, such as prostitution, alone.  As well, prositution in New Zealand has always been legal.  It was solicitation that wasn't.  The new laws merely removed a silly anomaly, which was that men could proposition a woman, but a woman couldn't solicit sexual services.  Also, brothels were illegal, so that women either worked in so-called Massage Parlours or they worked the streets, which were dangerous.  Women still do work the streets, but the majority now work in Neighbourhood brothels or in large parlours in the Central Business Districts. 

What governments in the Europe should look at is decriminalising prostitution and making it a option for local women as a avenue of work and hence trafficking in sex workers would decline. 

Again, prostitution is really a jealousy issue.  Women and men in positions of privilege were inforcing their beliefs on people in other stratas of society. 

Cheers,

GJK

NZ Prostitution Book

Sat, 03/21/2009 - 09:04
Kowhai (not verified)

I have a copy of a book called 'Laid Bare' about prostitution both before and after legalisation came into effect here in New Zealand that I would like to send to you if you would care to read it and respond? You can email me at the above email to give me an address to send it to...http://steeleroberts.co.nz/books/isbn/978-1-877448-48-5

Love your site, gives many much happy reading and many ideas to ponder

x K

Thank you...

Tue, 08/11/2009 - 14:59
SexWorkers NZ Girls (not verified)

Thank you for a very positive post and more positive comments on sex work and sex workers. I believe I'm falling in love with this site. I will surely come back to read more of your posts.

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