A Cromwell woman warns the Queenstown Lakes District Council risks "being held hostage to small groups of agitators", including conservative and Christian lobby groups, opposing brothels in central Queenstown and Wanaka.
Of the 23 submissions received so far, 20 oppose the council's draft brothel control bylaw, including one from Family First NZ president Bob McCoskrie.
Family First's submission supports the existing bylaw, which bans brothels within 100m of homes, schools, preschools, churches, community facilities or reserves.
The modified bylaw was recommended because the current bylaw could breach the Prostitution Reform Act 2003, which legalised commercial sex.
Many opposition submitters have echoed Mr McCoskrie's assertion "there is a strong association between brothels and gang involvement, drug and alcohol abuse, used condoms littered about and general nuisance".
But submitter Bonnie Miller Perry, of Cromwell, said Family's First's statement was "untrue" in the wake of the Prostitution Reform Act 2003 - a piece of legislation she said had been lauded internationally for its "enlightened approach" and was "still influencing other countries in their reforms".
One of the Act's main achievements had been to "specifically de-link [prostitution] from crime".
"The change in the law has had a hugely positive impact in regulating the activity, and it must be supported, not criticised."
She said council bylaws must conform in "letter and spirit" to "all respects of New Zealand's human rights legislation".
"It is most important that the council be seen to uphold the laws of New Zealand in all respects. The council must not be held hostage to small groups of agitators seeking to change those laws to suit their own views."
Recent submitter David Sutherland, of Queenstown, voiced concern about commercial sex causing "irreparable harm" to the town's "family-friendly atmosphere", warning "high-net [worth] individuals" may be put off investing.
Arrowtown and Sydney-based submitter Joe Vescio - a brothel bylaw specialist and provincial planner - said the draft bylaw needed to be "amplified" and provided suggestions for how controls on the "very light" draft bylaw could be tightened up, including consents for brothels being limited to one year, strict location rules and worker, client and public safety and security guidelines.
QLDC regulatory manager Roger Taylor said the issue for the council was purely about signage and location.
"Any social issues - benefits or otherwise - are not something we get to consider. Central government did that with the Prostitution Reform Act," he said.
Submissions on the draft brothel control bylaw close on November 22.
