Suppression continues for sex tours accused

File photo / Martin Sykes

An Auckland man charged with organising and promoting child sex tours to Southeast Asia and dealing in children for sexual exploitation has had his name suppression extended for another two weeks.

The 46-year-old motel and property manager was granted continued suppression in the Auckland District Court today and remanded on bail until his next appearance on September 13.

His bail conditions were altered from a 24 hour curfew to a curfew from 7pm until 7am.

His lawyer Chris Wilkinson-Smith requested suppression for a further two weeks, because he said releasing the man's name would affect his employer.

"This offending has nothing to do with his employer," Mr Wilkinson-Smith said.

Judge Roy Wade extended the interim order, which was made when the man first appeared in Manukau District Court on August 21.

"It's possible at this stage that there may be an order for separate trials so releasing his name may have a prejudicial effect on any jury. But his name suppression is not likely to continue indefinitely," Judge Wade said.

The man faces three charges - organising and promoting child sex tours, publishing information promoting child sex tours and dealing with people under the age of 18 for sexual exploitation.

He was arrested on August 20 after police swooped on addresses in Remuera and Mangere following an eight-month undercover 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 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, Mr Michael said.

- NZPA