When the Act came into being on 28 June, a number of activities became lawful that were previously unlawful including keeping a brothel; living on the earnings of prostitution; procuring a person for prostitution; and soliciting for the purposes of prostitution. Councils around the country were given two new powers to regulate the location of brothels and advertising of sexual services.

A questionnaire on page six has been produced by the Council to gather public feedback on whether it needs to use these new powers. As part of its information gathering process, the Council’s Prostitution Reform Act Subcommittee has learned about the industry in Christchurch by talking to the Police, community and public health workers, prostitutes and owners of prostitution businesses.

“Before the Council can make any decisions, we need to be very aware of all the issues and public feeling,” the Council’s Regulatory and Consents Committee chairperson, Cr Wells says.

“But it is important that before people fill in their questionnaire, they understand it is not about banning prostitution or brothels. “We don’t have the powers to do that, only to limit where brothels can go and what signage and advertising they can have. We have focused the questionnaire on the things we have the power to control.”