Sex worker: ‘We’re everywhere’
‘Draconian’ bylaws are driving the sex trade underground in two of our top tourist centres. Jo McKenzie-McLean reports.
Tight bylaws limiting where brothels can operate in Queenstown and Wanaka have failed to stop the trade, with sex workers instead using ‘‘working girl-friendly’’ hotels and selling sex from homes.
One sex worker, who says she spent $45,000 in one year on hotel accommodation, says prostitution contributes ‘‘hugely’’ to the district’s economy, but those working in the industry continue to be discriminated against, mocked and marginalised.
The Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) has kept its towns brothel-less through restrictive and ‘‘draconian’’ bylaws since prostitution was decriminalised in 2003.
After the closure of the resort town’s only long-running brothel, Candy’s in 2008, the council has worked to keep brothels from gaining a foothold in the region – going as far as banning them altogether in a 2008 bylaw. The council later reviewed the bylaw because it was potentially at odds with the Prostitution Reform Act, but some believe the updated bylaw is still at odds with the Act.
In Queenstown, brothels are only allowed to operate within a two-block zone in the town centre bound by Earl St, Camp St, Shotover St and the lakefront from Rees St to Marine Pde. In Wanaka, brothels are also confined to a twoblock zone, there bound by Ardmore, Dunmore, Helwick and Dungarvon streets.
They cannot be on ground level or beneath ground level or have signs advertising the business. Brothels are also limited to operating within buildings issued with building consents, which, for example, prevents operators from using large vehicles or temporary structures.
Commercial sexual services can occur in a motel as long as the prostitution occurs under an arrangement initiated elsewhere – such as online.
A report presented to the council in 2017 said the current bylaw was working appropriately and areas outside town centres were not suitable locations for brothels because of the potential for crime, nuisance or other harm.
SEX WORKERS ‘EVERYWHERE’
Sex worker Danna Burton, who recently won a landmark court case against a woman who outed her as a sex worker online, said although prostitution was legal, there was still widespread discrimination and ‘‘gutter’’ perceptions sex workers were nothing more than ‘‘crack whores’’ and ‘‘porn stars’’.
‘‘We are not accepted by society largely ... sex workers are still laughed out, poked fun at ... and depicted as the bottom of the barrel. It is time for a change.’’
Council bylaws, such as Queenstown Lakes’, were unjustified, discriminatory in their very nature, potentially at odds with the Prostitution Reform Act, and did not work because sex workers were ‘‘everywhere’’, she said.
‘‘The bylaw has been decided by someone taking a moral high ground they don’t want sex in Queenstown. The bylaw is there because they don’t want sex workers living next door. Guess what? We are already there. The chances are everyone knows one or has seen one they just don’t realise it. There are thousands of us. We are everywhere.’’
Discrimination went beyond bylaws, Burton said.
‘‘Banks don’t want to deal with us. I contribute hugely to the economy and pay taxes. Last year I spent close to $45,000 in hotel accommodation and bring in sixfigures. We are a multimilliondollar business in New Zealand ... We operate a legitimate business like any other business person.’’
New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective co-founder Dame Catherine Healy said bylaws such as Queenstown Lakes’ were unduly restrictive, inhibitive and pushed the sex industry underground.
‘‘It’s very interesting that our biggest tourist towns are very hostile towards sex workers ... You don’t need a draconian approach to manage these issues. You don’t need to be the police of sex. Brothels are traditionally quiet places. They don’t want big neon signs flashing.
‘‘It’s definitely about perception and it’s about ‘not in our town ... We don’t have those kinds of people here’.’’
BROTHELS ‘SAFER’ FOR WORKERS
A Queenstown businessman involved in the adult entertainment industry, who asked not to be named, said the council had tried to make it as difficult as possible for people to open brothels in the district.
The area brothels were allowed to operate within was small, and a rule stating they could not operate within 100 metres of each other made it impossible for more than one to establish itself, he said.
Conservative landlords were also blockading potential brothels from establishing by refusing to lease out their buildings to such business owners, he said.
‘‘[The council] have a stronghold and are making it more dangerous for people working in the industry. Instead, they have driven it out into motels and private addresses.
‘‘There are currently between five and 35 girls working in Queenstown any one time. Most are Asians brought in and pimped out.’’
There was a huge demand for brothels in the area – he said his staff were asked between ‘‘50 and 60’’ times a night where one could be found.
Sex workers were ‘‘100 per cent’’ right to claim they were being discriminated against.
‘‘Queenstown is one of those places you are either of a certain set or you are not. If you are in the certain set you can pretty much do anything.’’
Brothels would provide a safer environment for workers, he said.
‘‘Council need to grow up and grow up quickly. They need to get off their high horses. They are driving it underground and something bad will happen and they should be ready for it.’’
BROTHELS NOT ‘FAMILYFRIENDLY’
Mayor Jim Boult said the bylaw was in keeping with the environment and atmosphere people wanted in the district.
‘‘[It] minimises the exposure to families and children in our town centres, which I believe is wholeheartedly appropriate.
‘‘Queenstown is the jewel in the crown for New Zealand’s tourism industry and our bylaw provides appropriate balance to ensure our towns are safe, welcoming and family-friendly for all our visitors and residents.’’
He was not aware of any hostility to the industry, he said.
‘‘I would be concerned if workers in the industry felt that way ... Personally, I am not an advocate for the establishment of brothels, but it is a legal activity in New Zealand and if someone wishes to establish one, and complies with the QLDC bylaws, then that is their business.’’
Burton said she knew of about 25 women who toured New Zealand to offer their services, including in Queenstown and Wanaka.
The ‘‘touring independents’’ usually rented rooms in ‘‘working girl-friendly’’ hotels.
‘‘I know women in Queenstown who have their own residence and see clients or do out-calls. There are hotels in Queenstown that are working girl-friendly, but there are only a handful of them.’’
Sex workers mainly advertised online through various escort directory sites. Social media was becoming harder to advertise on as sex workers frequently had their accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook cancelled.
‘‘They are being scrutinised and heavily policed ... If you are involved in the sex industry Facebook will shut you down.’’
Many people had misconceptions about the workers did, Burton said. ‘‘As escorts, we have the opportunity to do some really great things for lonely, lonely men who might be widowed or in loveless relationships.
‘‘There are a lot of young men who come to see us to feel connected to another human being, to give them a hug, to make them feel important or desirable in society.
‘‘We see people with disabilities who are in need of human touch. People need to get their mind out of the gutter and stop thinking it’s about porn.’’