Prostitution Reform Act 2003

Commercial sexual services - Prohibitions on use in prostitution of persons under 18 years

23: Offence to breach prohibitions on use in prostitution of persons under 18 years

You could also call this:

"It's against the law to involve people under 18 in prostitution, and you can get in trouble if you do."

If you break the rules about using people under 18 years old in prostitution, you commit an offence. You can go to prison for up to 7 years if you are found guilty. This is because you would be contravening section 20, section 21, or section 22.

If you give legal advice, counselling, health advice, or medical services to someone under 18 years old, you are not breaking the rules. You are allowed to help people under 18 years old in these ways.

If you are under 18 years old, you cannot be charged with an offence related to this rule if someone else commits an offence against you or with you.

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This page was last updated on

View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM197876.


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22: No person may contract for commercial sexual services from, or be client of, person under 18 years, or

"You can't pay or receive sexual services from someone under 18 years old."


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24: Purpose of inspection, or

"Checking if people are following the prostitution laws"

Part 2Commercial sexual services
Prohibitions on use in prostitution of persons under 18 years

23Offence to breach prohibitions on use in prostitution of persons under 18 years

  1. Every person who contravenes section 20, section 21, or section 22 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years.

  2. No person contravenes section 20 merely by providing legal advice, counselling, health advice, or any medical services to a person under 18 years of age.

  3. No person under 18 years of age may be charged as a party to an offence committed on or with that person against this section.

Notes
  • Section 23(1): amended, on , by section 413 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2011 (2011 No 81).