Brothels seek more staff
Brothels in Hamilton are seeking out of town staff for Fieldays this week.
The four day agricultural event is the biggest week of the year for Hamilton’s sex industry. Owners of major Hamilton brothels say the event, attended by more than 130,000 last year, creates a demand local sex workers can’t meet.
A sex worker advocate says event and tourism organisers ignore the demand for touring sex workers at their peril.
Brothel owner Graeme, who declined to give his last name, said he’d consider any staff willing to work the week at his inner-city parlour.
Richie Robin, owner of Club 140 and Blue Liaisons, is looking to double her staff for Fieldays.
Call outs to motel rooms increased during the week.
New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective national co-ordinator Catherine Healy said sex workers were the ‘‘poor relation’’ when it came event tourism.
‘‘It’s an oversight in planning for a big event. It’s at your peril that you ignore sex workers.’’
It was the independent, innovative sex workers that usually followed events across the country, she said.
‘‘Accommodation is always really difficult to get when a big event is on. So ironically, there can be lots of work but not enough workers to provide.’’
Sex worker Natasha, who declined to give her last name, said working Fieldays almost felt ‘‘like getting a bonus’’. It’s lucrative enough to bring in staff from around the North Island, some out of retirement.
‘‘It's at your peril that you ignore sex workers.’’