Auckland suburbs could become a red light district

NZ Herald 14 July 2015
New signage regulations for residential brothels mean streets housing families and children could easily become a K’Rd-style red light district, a lobby group says.

Under the new council rules, brothels in residential Auckland will soon be allowed small signs advertising their sex services — but flashing lights or sexualised shapes and images are being ruled out.

The move is part of Auckland Council’s review of different bylaws inherited from seven councils, and the replacement regional bylaw will be effective from October 1.

Bob McCoskrie, national director of right-wing lobby group Family First, said brothels should not be in residential areas or near sensitive sites such as schools, churches or marae — no matter how large or small.

“The bylaws needs to give priority to the concerns and demands of families and create a bylaw that minimises the harms of the flawed Prostitution Reform Act.

“In 2013, residents in an Auckland suburb were upset that a cluster of premises offering commercial sex were operating within a kilometre of one another in an upmarket Auckland city-fringe suburb, and there was nothing they could do.

“To now allow signage on all these places will simply add further aggravation to families who don’t want their children confronted with this industry.”

Mr McCoskrie said the council’s suggestion that the Advertising Standards Authority or the Human Rights Commission would deal with complaints was “naive and flawed”.

“Both bodies are slow to act, come after the advertising damage has been done, and based on history are more likely to protect the brothels than consider the concerns of families.”

Mr McCoskrie said residential brothels were not discreet, and there were also concerns about noise, traffic, intimidation, litter, and late night visit.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11480341

Auckland brothels allowed to advertise
Yahoo NZ 14 July 2015
Sex sells, and Auckland signwriters are about to get in on the action.

A review of Auckland Council’s bylaws has given residential bordellos the right to advertise their sex services with small and discreet signs.

However, perverse signs with sexualised shapes or flashing lights will not be allowed.

The new regional bylaws come into place from October 1, with brothels to be subjected to the same advertising standards as all other businesses.

But not everyone is thrilled by the development.

Family First national director Bob McCoskrie said the bylaws need to prioritise the concerns of families and minimises the harms of the prostitution reform act.

“Brothels no matter how large or small simply shouldn’t be in residential areas or near sensitive sites such as schools, churches or maraes,” he said on Tuesday.

“To now allow signage on all these places will simply add further aggravation to families who don’t want their children confronted with this industry.”

Complaints about the content of bordello’s signage may be referred to the NZ Advertising Standards Complaints Authority.
https://nz.news.yahoo.com/top-stories/a/28783367/auckland-brothels-allowed-to-advertise/

Size limits imposed on brothel signs
Stuff co.nz 14 July 2015
Auckland brothels advertising their wares may have to shrink the size of their road-side signs.

Auckland Council’s new signage bylaw, coming into effect on October 1, will limit publicly visible brothel signage to 0.33 square metres in a residential zone or 1 square metre in all other zones.

It will also prevent brothels being able to advertise anything except their name, street number and phone number on publicly visible signage.

That means no flashing lights, changeable messages or sexualised shapes or images.

According to the council documents the bylaw will replace 11 previous bylaws from former local councils.

Most of these bylaws had prior requirements for brothel signs to be limited to 1 square metre.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/better-business/70207211/size-limits-imposed-on-brothel-signs.html

Green light for red light advertising
Rules relaxed for residential brothels
3 News 14 July 2015
A bylaw review in Auckland means brothels in residential areas will now be able to advertise their services with small signs.

The new regional bylaw comes into action on October 1 and comes with restrictions, including the maximum size of the sign being 0.33sqm and flashing lights or sexualised shapes on it being prohibited, the New Zealand Herald reports.

The current Manukau City Council Brothels Bylaw means signs aren’t allowed to be seen from a residential zone and prohibits words that are sexually explicit, lewd or offensive.

Family First NZ national director Bob McCoskrie criticised the changes and says the new rules backtrack on the Prostitution Reform Act.

“Our understanding was that a red light district would be a specific area and that it would be out of sight of families and children and also there were strict regulations around signage in those areas,” Mr McCoskrie told the Herald.
http://www.3news.co.nz/nznews/rules-relaxed-for-residential-brothels-2015071407#axzz3fp4qMNkO

Brothel signs coming to residential Auckland
Newstalk ZB 14 July 2015
Brothels in residential Auckland will be allowed small signs advertising their sex services under new council rules.

But flashing lights or sexualised shapes and images are being ruled out.

The move is part of Auckland Council’s review of different bylaws inherited from seven councils.

“They work from home and tend to be discreet.” However, Family First NZ national director Bob McCoskrie criticised the changes..

“When the Prostitution Reform Act was pushed through, one of the areas they were specific about was advertising and part of that was to protect families,” he said.