Mahuta Nanaia: Prostitution Reform Bill — Second Reading 
Mahuta Nanaia: Prostitution Reform Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:606;Page:3623] 
NANAIA MAHUTA (NZ Labour—Tainui) 
: 
 I rise to join in this debate tonight. For the 6 years or so that I have been here this is one of the most important debates we could participate in as members of Parliament. I congratulate Tim Barnett and also Katherine O’Regan a former member of this Parliament who did a lot of the background work towards the introduction of this bill. When the bill was introduced I was one of those members who voted for it to be sent to select committee. I had an open mind about all the issues that this bill addresses. Again I congratulate Tim Barnett on bringing one of the hardest issues to this Parliament so that we can discuss openly the impact of the sex-trade industry and how we will address these issues in the future.  
Is this a bill that deals with the rights of prostitutes? Is this a bill that provides the greatest protection for those who are most vulnerable in this industry? I thought about that when I started listening to the submissions. It became something that shaped my opinion on the decriminalisation issue.  
I will not vote for this bill for a number of reasons. I do not think it will protect those who are most vulnerable in the industry. I say that from the base of knowledge of having listened to submissions having gone to Australia having listened to a lot of experiences of people in the industry and also having listened to a lot of contrary views and moral views from other groups. I believe that I have tried to cast the widest net possible to make my determinations and stand on my conscience today.  
This bill presents a number of anomalies that this House needs to consider. It is the impact of this legislation which forms what will happen in our communities that we need to be really mindful of. The issue of 18 as the age for sex workers is in the bill. I commend members for setting the age at 18 but when the legal consenting age is 16 it presents an anomaly that is unworkable. We should not bring bad law into this House. But more so what are the types of messages that we as members of Parliament are sending out into our communities? Do we accept that this is a profession that we want to encourage people to go into? I do not want to stand here as a member of Parliament in judgment—far from it. However I want to be part of a Parliament that says there are values in our society that all cultures and all nationalities will uphold to ensure the rights of women will be protected every step of the way. I cannot support this bill.  
It gives me great concern that members tonight have said that those who are opposed to the bill are taking some moral high ground. I do not believe that is it at all. When I look at the communities that I represent and when I talk to Maori women who are in the industry they bring up the issue of harassment when they engage in this type of activity. There is no protection and this bill will not provide it either. When they ask for payment first when they are out in a car somewhere or when they are down an alley the simple fact of the matter is that nothing in this bill will help them.  
How can I say that this is an opportunity to provide protection for those who are most vulnerable in the sex industry? Even if we were to move towards a licensing regime which is a step towards legalisation will that help those who are the most vulnerable? No it will not because the problems that are associated with sectors of people who participate in the unregulated part of the industry are most at risk.  
When we visited Australia we heard that there were a whole lot of other issues associated with activities around prostitution. It was prostitution and drugs and alcohol. Prostitution is the oldest profession in the world because no country anywhere has been able to regulate protect or safeguard all the issues that surround prostitution.  
I would like to make one final point. Comparative studies on indigenous people and the impact of prostitution on indigenous communities whether they be male or female have shown that decriminalisation will not work and I will not support it.