South Auckland communities have come together to help stamp out street prostitution in their region after an increase in the number of underage sex workers. A public meeting was held in Papatoetoe today, where residents expressed their shock at girls as young as 11 years old selling themselves on the streets of Otara. Otara is the latest area in south Auckland where street prostitution has set up shop.
But it's the rise in sex workers under the age of 16 that has upset the community most. So I talk to the children, and you'd be surprised at what the children told me. They said, 'Mary, we have three in Otara β a year-old and two underage schoolgirls.
She says there has been an increase in underage prostitutes working Otara's main centre, and it's the older, experienced women whom the young girls are learning from. The issue has shocked those that live in the four main spots for street prostitution β Otara, Manurewa, Otahuhu and Papatoetoe. At a public meeting today, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters called for a move from street prostitution into licensed brothels.
Ms Lole Taylor says while there is a proposed bill for regulation of prostitution in certain places, it doesn't go far enough, and the issue now needs to be about protecting those girls who are underage. South Auckland residents address underage prostitution Breaking.
One Otara dairy owner told 3 News he's noticed the rise in underage girls working the streets.
