Sex shop spices up Eketahuna

Eketahuna is probably not New Zealand’s sexiest destination – but Samantha Ifill and Ian Turner plan to change that.

The friends and business partners will officially open their adult shop Tabu in the small Wairarapa town tomorrow, after hosting its launch tonight.

They aim to cater mainly to passing traffic, and online customers. Other retailers in the town report about 4000 vehicles a day passing through Eketahuna since the Manawatu Gorge was closed.

‘‘Everybody has sex, so this is like a one-stop shop for people who are interested in spicing things up a bit, or something a bit different,’’ Ifill said.

‘‘There are other businesses that people stop for here, so it just adds to what is available for people passing through. Locals have been enthusiastic and really accepting of what we are doing.’’

The pair previously worked in adult shops in Auckland, and Ifill – sister of former Wellington Phoenix and Wairarapa United footballer Paul Ifill – said Eketahuna was ‘‘a lovely change’’.

‘‘Another big factor was the cost,’’ Turner said. ‘‘Rent compared to Auckland is nothing, which brings overheads down, and the fibre internet also makes the online aspect much easier to work with.’’

The shop would not sell pornography. ‘‘We stock lingerie, sex toys, candles, massage oils, novelty items and things like that – all pretty tasteful stuff really.

‘‘If you opened a shop like this in Auckland you would have to sell out your entire stock every week just to pay the rent.’’

Craig Carter, owner of Addiction Cafe across the road, said he supported all local enterprise. Ifill and Turner were really nice people, and Tabu had created a buzz, even in surrounding towns.

Eketahuna Camp Ground owner Kerry Cunningham also welcomed the store. ‘‘We are pretty open-minded around here.’’