Child sex tourism accused remanded

Photo / Greg Bowker.

An Auckland man appeared in court today, charged with organising and promoting child sex tours to Southeast Asia and dealing in children for sexual exploitation.

The 46-year-old motel and property manager was granted name suppression at Manukau District Court this morning and remanded on bail.

He put his hand across his face as he walked past media photographers outside the court building and left in a taxi.

The man was arrested yesterday morning 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.

OCEANZ head Detective Senior Sergeant John-Paul Michael said yesterday the man was arrested shortly before he was due to leave the country for Thailand.

"The unit is working closely with other agencies and international partners to identify and track offenders involved in the online sexual exploitation of children in New Zealand and overseas," he said.

"New Zealanders who think they can travel abroad to commit these horrendous offences against children can expect to be targeted and arrested."

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

- NZPA