Child sex tour accused bailed

File photo / NZ Herald

An Auckland man charged with organising and promoting child sex tours to Southeast Asia and dealing in children for sexual exploitation, has been remanded on bail to reappear in court next month.

The 46-year-old motel and property manager, who appeared in Auckland District Court today, had his interim name suppression continued.

The man was arrested last month after police swooped on addresses in Remuera and Mangere following an eight-month uncover investigation.

The operation was co-ordinated by the Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) unit, a specialist team set up in 2009 as part of a global task force focused on online child sexual exploitation.

The man was arrested shortly before he was due to leave the country for Thailand.

It was the first time a charge of organising a child sex tour had been laid against an individual in New Zealand, police said.

The man was scheduled to reappear in court on October 27.

- NZPA