Gay men in Auckland, New Zealand have been warned not to have sex in a family-friendly park in the city. Reports said police and the Auckland Council have been working together to stop men from engaging in sexual activity behind the bushes. Some trees were already removed in Murphy's Bush.

However, police continue to receive reports of sexual activity in the area despite the clearing of some trees. Under New Zealand law, offensive behaviour in public has a maximum penalty of $1,000. Those found to have committed an "indecent" act in a public place will face two years in prison.

According to police inspector Wendy Spiller, bush sex is "unacceptable" behaviour especially in a public place. She said she was disappointed to hear many citizens avoiding the park for fear of seeing men having sex. Police have sworn to monitor the park for sexual activity.

Spiller warned that men should consider the fact that other people might want to enjoy the park without being disturbed by such activities.

Meanwhile, police in the UK did what they can to stop sex in public places decades ago. Gay men who were caught having sex in public toilets and outdoor "cruising grounds" were arrested and jailed. After almost 50 years of decriminalisation of gay sex in the UK, men meeting in public places or "cruising" remains popular.

According to a BBC report, police tends to get involved only when bystanders complain of people having sex in public. In the UK, the common law and statute law is applied in public sex environments where passersby will likely chance upon other people having sex. The law does not only apply to gay men but to heterosexual couples as well.

Gay activist Dan Bunker said cruising and cottaging or sex in public toilets have become part of gay culture. It is up to the police to strike a balance in deploying their forces to monitor isolated locations where bystanders might witness public sex.

The report said that the right to have outdoor sex is being interpreted as part of the Human Rights Act in which an individual has the right to privacy and family life. A person can engage in activities as long as he or she does not violate the rights of others.