An Attempt At Intimacy

Does sex come with consumer rights? The short answer is yes, if you pay for it. 

In 2003 the ‘Prostitution Reform Act’ squeezed through New Zealand parliament by just one vote! The result of that one vote is that it’s 100% legal to operate a brothel, work as a Sex Worker, or be a client. 

The law reform was driven by the NZ Prostitute Collective with the aim of creating safer conditions for Sex Workers. According to studies by the University of Otago & the Prostitution Reform Committee, this has been a success. 

Post decriminalisation the sex industry is treated – in law at least – just like any other business. This means, like other service providers the suppliers have obligations under the Consumer Guarantees and Fair-Trading Acts. If you go to a brothel and the service isn’t very good, can you complain and ask for your money back? 

This gives rise to another question... Are those consumer rights fit for purpose, or is there an inherent tension between protecting the rights of workers and the rights of consumers? 

To dive into this we hear from Dan* about his experiences as a client buying sex & Madam Mary, the owner and manager of Wellington brothel Funhouse. 

 

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*Dan is his real name! 

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