South Auckland local politicians are set to release a booklet outlining why a by-law giving them power to restrict street prostitution should be passed.

The politicians want to pass a law which gives Auckland Council the power to remove street prostitution in mixed residential areas like Manurewa, Otahuhu and Hunter’s Corner in Papatoetoe.

The campaign takes another step on Monday with the release of the booklet, which is aimed at convincing MPs and the public of the merits of their case.

Prostitution was legalised in 2002 but although councils had some power to enact by-laws restricting it, Otara-Papatoetoe Local Board chairman John McCracken says it would likely be successfully challenged in court as a breach of human rights.

An earlier bill was defeated 73-46 at its second reading in 2006 but Mr McCracken says there are major differences in the new bill.

“The previous bill was effectively a blanket ban on street prostitution within the former Manukau area. In hindsight that was too severe,” he told NZ Newswire.

“This bill is not giving council the ability to blank out the entire area or make Auckland street prostitution-free. It is very specific.”

He said they were especially trying to protect the rights of residents in areas like Hunter’s Corner.

“Where the circuit is that they operate now we’ve probably got 15 or 20 residences that are directly affected every single night of the week,” Mr McCracken said.

“We’ve got a pensioner village right there now.”

Auckland Council agreed to pick the bill up once Manukau Council was subsumed by the Super City and Mayor Len Brown will be among those at the launch of the booklet.

Former Manurewa MP George Hawkins, the original sponsor of the bill, said last year that soundings from the previous parliament said there was little chance it would be passed.

Source:

http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8499391/street-prostitution-bill-moves-forward

Sunday July 15, 2012 by AAP

NZ Newswire

NZ Newswire