The New Zealand government is urged to do something about the rampant street prostitution in Manukau, Christchurch and other areas as it plans to shift the responsibility of dealing with the issue to local councils.

First MP Asenati Lole-Taylor questioned Prime Minister John Key's plans to curb street prostitution especially when there are underage minors involved. PM Key says the Local Government Act empowers local leadership to create by-laws to make street prostitution illegal.

According to Lole-Taylor, local councils cannot enforce by-laws against street prostitution because legal opinion obtained by Auckland City Council says the laws would contradict the Prostitution Reform Act.

The Prostitution Reform Act was passed in 2003 to legalise prostitution in New Zealand. MP Lole-Taylor said the government is shifting responsibility to local councils who don't have the power to make such laws since prostitution became legal in the country since 2003.

Ten years after

Ten years after prostitution in New Zealand has been legalised, sex workers can still be seen in suburban shopping streets. Residents have grown frustrated especially along Hunters Corner in Papatoetoe.

A select committee in Parliament is considering whether to revise or abandon a Manukau City Council bill which was later on adopted by Auckland City Council. Lole-Taylor owns a member's bill containing controls. It is a continuing and often bitter campaign between business owners and residents to rid Auckland once and for all of street hookers.

Street prostitutes have been accused of thrashing and vandalising the neighbourhood and having sex in public. Some businesses have closed because of prostitution in nearby areas.

Legalising prostitution in New Zealand was driven improving public health and reducing sexual exploitation of prostitutes. With regards to location, the law empowers local councils to refuse consent for brothels that are more likely to cause disturbance. However, the law is silent when it comes to restricting areas where sex can be sold.