No flash brothel signs for Whangarei

Whangarei brothels may soon have to use no-frills signs to advertise their businesses under a proposed council bylaw.

Under the 2003 Prostitution Law Reform Act, Whangarei District Council, now in the final stages of deciding its regulations for sex businesses, looks set to restrict all such activities to its central business district.

It is also considering imposing strict rules on signage that would prevent commercial sex businesses from putting up signs with "words or images or models (human or mannequin) which are sexually explicit, lewd or otherwise offensive".

The signs are to be restricted to being no bigger than 1m by 0.3m, cannot flash, and cannot contain neon lighting.