Offers of more than massage

By Tony Wall

Angela's Health Centre in the Panmure shops on Queens Rd, Salon 45 a few doors down; and Salon 28 on Ponsonby Rd all advertise traditional Chinese-style therapeutic massage.

But there is more on offer.

The Weekend Herald arranged for men to visit Angela's Health Centre and Salon 28 yesterday.

At Angela's Health Centre our volunteer paid $45 for a body massage. He was asked to strip and then offered sex for $70. He declined and left.

It was a similar story at Salon 28 in Ponsonby, run by the same Chinese people who operate Salon 45.

Our volunteer paid $55 to get past the front hair salon to a private room. The Chinese masseuse began a rubdown and then offered sex for $80.

The woman said she kept "tips" paid by customers, while the business kept the massage fee. Licensed massage parlours take the same approach.

The manager of Salon 45 and Salon 28, Lucy Chang, denied sex was on offer at her premises.

She said her girls were all fully trained in traditional Chinese massage. But other businesses which offered the same service also sold sex, she said.

Angela, from Angela's Health Centre, said when the Herald suggested sex was offered at her premises: "No, never. Goodbye."