Voice Waikato e-mail notice
Hello Voice Waikato supporters,
Hamilton's Prostitution Bylaw is being reviewed!
Remember 2003? The Prostitution Reform Act had decriminalised brothel-keeping, pimping and soliciting. Brothels of any size could now operate anywhere in our communities.
Fortunately, the Act at least gave local authorities some powers to regulate prostitution in their areas. Hamilton's citizens made it abundantly clear they wanted controls. The City Council responded in 2004 with the Prostitution Bylaw. Brothels of all sizes were prohibited in residential areas. In the Brothel Permitted Zone (the city's commercial and industrial areas) they had to stay 100 metres away from sensiitve sites (schools, early childhood centres, marae and places of worship). Strict controls were imposed on their signs. Street soliciting was prohibited.
Every bylaw is reviewed after five years, and the Prostitution Bylaw's turn has come. Council will decide whether to keep, amend or delete it. The public have a vital say in this process.
We believe the Bylaw is the best available option while the Prostitution Reform Act remains. It is working. There have been 21 complaints to Council so far by neighbours suspecting they have a brothel operating nearby. Court proceedings have not been necessary. When Council officers have investigated, any illegal activity has tended to disappear. The Bylaw enables affected residents to protect their neighbourhoods. It maintains some control over the sex trade in the zone where it is permitted.
A clear expression of public support now will encourage Council to keep the Bylaw. You need only send Council a brief submission, by 22 May 2009, supporting its retention. One sentence will do, preferably but not necessarily on the form Council have supplied. You can:
- e-mail a submission to: submissions@hcc.govt.nz
- download a form at http://hamilton.co.nz/page/pageid/2145844418
- obtain a form from us or Council, and freepost it back to the Strategy and Research Unit,
Freepost 172189, Hamilton City Council, Private Bag 3010, Hamilton 3240;
- deliver your form to Level 2 of the main Council building in Garden Place.
This is your opportunity to cement the Bylaw in for the future. Put your own submission in, and you can also assist greatly by asking others to do the same. Speak to your friends and relations, and encourage them to talk to others in turn. Copy off forms (or get them from us) and distribute them. This networking can produce a large number of submissions to help preserve the Bylaw for a long time to come.
Thankyou for all your support. Please contact us with any questions.
Bert and Robyn Jackson,
Spokespeople, Voice Waikato,
8 McNicol Street,
Hamilton 3214,
(07) 853 7080
bert.jackson@xnet.co.nz
Hello Voice Waikato supporters,
Hamilton's Prostitution Bylaw is being reviewed!
Remember 2003? The Prostitution Reform Act had decriminalised brothel-keeping, pimping and soliciting. Brothels of any size could now operate anywhere in our communities.
Fortunately, the Act at least gave local authorities some powers to regulate prostitution in their areas. Hamilton's citizens made it abundantly clear they wanted controls. The City Council responded in 2004 with the Prostitution Bylaw. Brothels of all sizes were prohibited in residential areas. In the Brothel Permitted Zone (the city's commercial and industrial areas) they had to stay 100 metres away from sensiitve sites (schools, early childhood centres, marae and places of worship). Strict controls were imposed on their signs. Street soliciting was prohibited.
Every bylaw is reviewed after five years, and the Prostitution Bylaw's turn has come. Council will decide whether to keep, amend or delete it. The public have a vital say in this process.
We believe the Bylaw is the best available option while the Prostitution Reform Act remains. It is working. There have been 21 complaints to Council so far by neighbours suspecting they have a brothel operating nearby. Court proceedings have not been necessary. When Council officers have investigated, any illegal activity has tended to disappear. The Bylaw enables affected residents to protect their neighbourhoods. It maintains some control over the sex trade in the zone where it is permitted.
A clear expression of public support now will encourage Council to keep the Bylaw. You need only send Council a brief submission, by 22 May 2009, supporting its retention. One sentence will do, preferably but not necessarily on the form Council have supplied. You can:
- e-mail a submission to: submissions@hcc.govt.nz
- download a form at http://hamilton.co.nz/page/pageid/2145844418
- obtain a form from us or Council, and freepost it back to the Strategy and Research Unit,
Freepost 172189, Hamilton City Council, Private Bag 3010, Hamilton 3240;
- deliver your form to Level 2 of the main Council building in Garden Place.
This is your opportunity to cement the Bylaw in for the future. Put your own submission in, and you can also assist greatly by asking others to do the same. Speak to your friends and relations, and encourage them to talk to others in turn. Copy off forms (or get them from us) and distribute them. This networking can produce a large number of submissions to help preserve the Bylaw for a long time to come.
Thankyou for all your support. Please contact us with any questions.
Bert and Robyn Jackson,
Spokespeople, Voice Waikato,
8 McNicol Street,
Hamilton 3214,
(07) 853 7080
bert.jackson@xnet.co.nz
