Parliament erupted in cheers last night as a landmark law to decriminalise prostitution passed by a single vote.
Christchurch Labour MP Tim Barnett's Prostitution Reform Act will become law on Monday and soliciting for sex and brothelkeeping will no longer be illegal in New Zealand from that day.
In one of the closest votes in Parliament's history, the Act was passed 60-59, on the abstention of Labour's Muslim MP, Ashral Choudhary. Had Mr Choudhary, who opposed the Bill, not abstained, the Bill would have fallen because a 60-60 tie is counted as a defeat.
A packed public gallery screamed and cheered as the vote was read out after a tense 10-minute wait. Mr Barnett was mobbed by supporters both in and outside the chamber.
"I think right has won. We have created world-leading law. This is an historic moment. We have completed the unfinished business," a jubilant Mr Barnett told his supporters.
Mr Barnett said he knew the result when Act New Zealand MP Heather Roy, who had planned to vote against the Bill, walked into the ayes lobby.
"She was the 60th vote."
Key movers included Mr Choudhary, Labour MP Winnie Laban, Ms Roy and National MP Lockwood Smith.
Prostitutes Collective spokeswoman Catherine Healy thanked the sex workers who had supported a marathon effort to decriminalise prostitution after three years of scrutiny, 415 hours of debate and 222 public submissions.
"I hope there are sex workers out there celebrating tonight as I know they all can," Ms Healy said.
Family Planning Association head Gill Greer said the victory marked the beginning of a new era in prostitution in New Zealand.
"It's going to need a lot of work and a lot of support to change the lot of sex workers in New Zealand," she said.
In the greatest change to New Zealand's sex laws in 100 years, massage parlours will become brothels, and offering sex for money and living off the earnings of a prostitute will become lawful. Under the new law, brothel keepers will be subject to health and safety laws and will be required to offer sex workers employment contracts. They will be required to obtain certificates from local courts and may be banned if they hold serious criminal convictions.
Prime Minister Helen Clark, a key supporter of the law change who, when Minister of Health, approved funding for the Prostitutes Collective, made a personal plea to wavering Labour MPs to vote for Mr Barnett's Bill.