If you are in New Zealand or even any other part of the world, chances are you have heard of Sex shops and have seen a few ads for them. These are usually found in areas of high sexual activity, such as in major cities, in shopping centres, and in public parks, often in the nude.
Most sex shops in New Zealand are located in places where they can be easily spotted by people passing by, and are in high traffic areas, such as in shopping centres, malls and shopping streets. The sex industry has expanded and developed considerably over the past few years, in areas such as Victoria St and in places such as Queenstown.
The main problem with sex shops is that, as the industry has developed so has the law to protect customers. Many of these shops are illegal in New Zealand, because it is illegal to sell sexual products in public places.
Sex shops are not always illegal. In some cases they can be legal, but must adhere to the same laws that apply to other businesses such as bars. This applies even if the shop is open at night, although many shops will not allow customers to enter at night.
Sex shops are not only in areas of high sexual activity. They can also be located in rural areas, because they are not considered to cause harm to children and animals. A Sex Shop license may be required, however.
Sex stores are usually open until late in the evening and are not regulated by government legislation. Customers are able to buy anything they want from their own stores and there are no age restrictions, unlike in some areas.
Sex shops are open all day, every day of the year, although the hours are more likely to vary during summer months. A store could be open for lunchtime and then close again for dinner – but there is no real regulation, because they are considered to be private business.
Sex shops have also opened in more rural areas, but the laws are not as strict, and sex is still legal to buy there, even during daylight hours. People can buy from them from all hours of the day and night.
A Sex Shop licence can also be granted to businesses operating within a school or community. In some schools, they are able to open all hours – but in other schools they may only open at certain times.
Some sex shops offer discounts for buying a membership, which will allow customers to buy more than one item. Other discounts include buying a couple of products at the same time and being able to make unlimited calls and paying for one year at a time.
Not all sex shops are open in New Zealand. A number of stores are open in countries around the world, but it’s illegal in NZ to buy in them there.
There is also a law known as the Obscene Publications Act, which has been in effect for many years. If you buy any kind of item from a shop that sells sexually explicit items, you could be fined up to NZD2K (US$250).
Sex shops are a billion dollar industry in New Zealand. They sell an estimated five billion items of clothing, lingerie and other erotic goods a year.
If you are thinking about shopping in a shop, you should look carefully into its hygiene and safety standards. It’s important that the store is clean and sanitised to make sure that they won’t offend against any of the laws governing the sale of sex products in New Zealand.
It’s a good idea to check out a shop’s security before you buy something and ask to see their ID badges. Don’t hesitate to ask if the store has fire safety features, and that they provide adequate CCTV security cameras.
Check out the shop’s hygiene and safety, too, as well as their staff’s grooming and attire. It’s important to buy from a shop that has a reputation for offering safe and hygienic merchandise.