Take a peek inside the private world of a Rotorua massage parlour

Bobby Lee's is just like any other Rotorua business - when the town is busy and full of visitors, so is the massage parlour.

The iconic Bobby Lee's Massage Parlour on Fenton St is for sale, its owner keen to retire from an industry she has been involved with for 26 years.

Prostitution is now legal but there is still a stigma attached to the profession which forces those working in the industry to remain discreet.

Bobby Lee's, the second oldest massage parlour in Rotorua, was established in the early 1980s, and has been run by Leigh for 13 years. She's keen to see the business continue as a massage parlour and Ray White real estate agent Alf Hoyle says it has attracted a "tremendous amount" of interest from potential buyers.

While some might consider it an unusual business, he's confident an astute business person would buy it on its merits.

Wishing only to be known as Leigh, Bobby Lee's owner says it's been a "great little business" which has retained a good reputation. The business opens at 11am daily although shortly after 10am when the Daily Post arrived for a tour of the premises a client from out of town appeared, saying he was prepared to wait.

The colour scheme inside is bold. Four rooms have a single bed, the other a double. Each features mirrors and an adjoining bathroom and the walls are decorated with posters and paintings of women, some near naked. Pictures of women are painted on the doors of each room.

Marion, who has worked at the parlour for nearly 10 years, says about half the parlour's clientelle is local. The rest are visitors to the city and when Rotorua is busy, so is Bobby Lee's.

"We do notice an increase when there are events on in town, like Raggamuffin," Marion said. "When you are in a business like this you have to keep your finger on the pulse."

When Leigh bought the business it was known as Bobby's and she added a version of her own name but retained its former identity. Buying it was purely a business decision, a way to provide her with a regular income.

"If it sells, it sells, if it doesn't, it doesn't. It doesn't really bother me either way. It would be nice to get on with my life."

The parlour's business is mainly drummed up by word of mouth.

Little has changed since prostitution became legal.

"We have always been a massage parlour," Marion said. "We took the money for massages [and] what went on between the girl and the client was their business. Now, we are just glad we can provide these services in a safe environment.

"We are a registered business we pay taxes like everyone else."