Brothel business booming

Tauranga residents have a healthy sex drive according to brothel owners, who say they are far from struggling in these strained financial times.

Eight years on from prostitution being decriminalised, business is booming and is set to heat up even more during the Rugby World Cup when thousands of visitors will descend on the Bay.

Brothels Bay of Plenty Times Weekend spoke to reported an average of 120 to 160 clients a week. Each client spends anywhere between $80 and $200.

There are five brothels in operation in Tauranga and Mount Maunganui and countless more private enterprises running from home.

Manager of environmental compliance for Tauranga City Council John Payne said few complaints had been received about the Tauranga sex industry.

"We don't get many complaints and if we do it is likely to be an allegation that there is more than one female offering services from a residential dwelling," Mr Payne said. Residents are allowed to offer commercial sex services from home, provided only person operates there. Brothels must only open in areas permitted under council bylaw.

Massage parlour Corporate Angels is the largest brothel in Tauranga. Owner Allan Coombes, said clients felt more comfortable visiting sex workers knowing the profession was legal but demand hadn't changed much since 2003.

"When something is illegal or an untouched fruit it's more intriguing and they still would have come."

See the Bay of Plenty Times Weekend for a feature on Tauranga's sex industry