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Sex TraffickingArchive 2008–2016

Sex Trafficking in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island (2005)

A sex trafficking case from 2005 in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand. 1 source on file.

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What happened

A 60 yr old male New Zealand National and brothel-keeper (Michael Hastie), reportedly to have been involved in the escort industry for 26 years, coerced a 15 year old female New Zealand National to work as a prostitute in his home. The girl was deemed to be lured by the perpetrator after he admitted to booking and paying for the girl's bus ticket into the area. The perpetrator had sex with the victim before coercing her to work as a prostitute, from which he took a cut of the earnings. The perpetrator was charged but found not guilty to supplying cannabis to the victim.

Response and intervention

The perpetrator was arrested, charged and convicted under the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 and is awaiting sentencing (Scheduled for October 13, 2010). Not Reported United States Department of State, Trafficking in Persons Report 2009 - New Zealand, 16 June 2009, available at: http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/docid/4a42149fc.html [accessed 21 October 2010] Taranaki Daily News 19/08/2010 "Hastie guilty over young prostitute" - Lyn Humpreys nzherald.co.nz 18/08/2010 "Brothel-keeper found guilty of sex charges" - Author Unknown

Sources

Nearby cases

All 4 in New Zealand →
Sex Trafficking2010

Bay of Plenty, Tauranga District, New Zealand, 2010

New Zealand NZ

A 19 year old male New Zealand national, prostituted his 15 year old girlfriend in order to earn money for his drug addiction. It was their only source of income, and he took from her all the money she earned. It is reported that she was "scared of him". The girl worked 3-4 nights a week, servicing 1-3 Johns a night. The man would escort her to her clients, and afterwards would give the money she earned over to him. The relationship ended in June 2007, but over the following month the man sent the girl numerous offensive text messages before being arrested.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016
Sex Trafficking2012

Auckland, New Zealand, 2012

New Zealand NZ

A bankrupt motel operator has become the first person in New Zealand to be sent to jail for organising a child sex tour to Thailand. The 48-year-old has been given a three year sentence. An anti-exploitation group say despite it being a landmark case, child prostitution here and overseas is a growing problem. The destination was Pattaya, Thailand, an area known for its thriving sex industry. The plan was to have sex with young boys.The man believed he could run a business based on child sex tours and organised one. Justice Edwin Wylie at the Auckland High Court says the man was motivated primarily by his desire to make money. “Organising sex tours where the intent is that the traveller has sex with underage children is despicable,” he said.Stop Demand founder Denise Ritchie says the fact we have had our citizens go over and exploit the vulnerability and poverty of children in many of those countries is “heinous”, adding “it’s a shocking crime”.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016
CSEC2008

New Zealand, New Zealand, 2008

New Zealand NZ

One brothel owner was sentenced to 21 months imprisonment, one was sentenced to 300 hours of community service. The secretary of the latter owner was sentenced to 180 hours of community service, and the client was sentenced to one to two years' imprisonment.

Needs a sourceArchive 2008–2016