Prostitution Reform Act 2003

The Prostitution Reform Act 2003 is an Act of Parliament that decriminalised prostitution in New Zealand. The Act also gave new rights to sex workers. It has attracted international attention, although its reception has been mixed. The Act repealed the Massage Parlours Act 1978 and the associated regulations.

Prostitution Reform Act
New Zealand Parliament
Royal assent27 June 2003
Commenced28 June 2003
Administered byMinistry of Justice
Legislative history
Introduced byTim Barnett
Introduced21 September 2000
First reading8 November 2000
Second reading19 February 2003
Third reading25 June 2003
Related legislation
Status: Current legislation

The Act was introduced as a member's bill by Tim Barnett after being drawn from a ballot. Members were allowed a conscience vote, and on the 25 June 2003, the bill passed its third reading by a margin of one vote (60–59), after the country's only Muslim MP, Ashraf Choudhary, voted to abstain, thereby allowing the bill to narrowly pass.

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