Otago Daily Times

Sex work area to be slightly expanded

A SLIGHTLY expanded area for sex workers to operate in has been approved by the Queenstown Lakes District Council. During the public consultati­on phase of the review, the council asked for feedback on whether to maintain, slightly expand or widely expand the existing boundaries for sex work within the central business districts of Queenstown and Wānaka.

The council decided to take the middle ground in its review of the brothel control bylaw 2024, despite none of the submitters supporting that option.

Twenty submission­s (four from Wānaka, three from Queenstown, 13 from outside the district) were received but noone called for the middle ground (slightly expand). Neverthele­ss, the bylaw review panel recommende­d the middle option in an attempt to balance the two extremes for and against. Panel chairman Cr Cody Tucker, of Lake Hāwea, said the panel wanted to strike a balance between the Prostituti­on Reform Act 2003 and community sentiment.

He acknowledg­ed that meant the district would still be one of the most restrictiv­e for the sex work industry in New Zealand. Deputy mayor Quentin Smith, of Wānaka, agreed the panel had found a pragmatic solution.

Mayor Glyn Lewers said he supported the recommenda­tion but felt ‘‘a wee bit uncomforta­ble’’ given seven submission­s came from within the community compared with 13 from outside the district.

However, Cr Melissa White, of ArrowtownK­awarau, said ‘‘quite a few’’ of those 13 submitters represente­d people who lived in the district.

Cr Lyal Cocks, of Wānaka, supported the panel’s recommenda­tion because the panel had heard all the evidence, but reiterated his opinion the sex work industry should be treated like any other business under the district plan.

Cr Lisa Guy, of ArrowtownK­awarau, said the panel had made a fair decision.

Chief executive Mike Theelen said receiving submission­s was not like doing a poll or taking a popularity vote.

‘‘You are weighing up community sentiment against law. That is not an easy thing to do, as reflected by committee recommenda­tions,’’ he said.

The new bylaw comes into effect on September 1.