13 MAY: New Zealand immigration authorities are stepping up border security and brothel checks to clamp down on overseas prostitutes arriving to work illegally during the Rugby World Cup, the NZ Herald newspaper reports today.
"Extensive planning has taken place by all the border agencies to ensure that there are resources in place to allow the smooth movement of genuine travellers coming here for the Rugby World Cup," immigration official Steve Stuart told the paper
"Major international sporting events are likely to increase demand for sex workers, and we are ready for that."
His comments follow the conviction on Wednesday of an Auckland brothel operator for attempting to smuggle a prostitute into the country.
"This was an attempt at people smuggling which exploits the vulnerable for personal financial greed and we have zero tolerance towards such wilful abuse of the immigration system," Mr Stuart said.
"It serves as a warning to those who may be tempted to take advantage of the Rugby World Cup that we will not tolerate this activity or any immigration abuse."
Although prostitution has been decriminalised in NZ, it is illegal for anyone on a temporary visa, such as tourists or international students, to work in the sex industry.
Around 85,000 fans are expected to start arriving from August, and brothel owners are expecting a boom.
One says he has already been contacted by sex workers from Asia and even some from Germany wanting to work here during the six week competition period.
"We don’t smuggle them into the country ... these girls come on their own accord, willingly, and we just give them a place to do their work," he said.
