Child sex tour organiser to appear in court

A man is to appear in court tomorrow, charged with organising and promoting child sex tours to Southeast Asia and dealing in children for sexual exploitation.

The man, a 46-year-old Auckland motel and property manager, was arrested this morning after police swooped on addresses in Remuera and Mangere.

It followed an eight-month investigation in which an undercover police officer was used to gather evidence.

The manager was due in Manukau District Court today but because it took police longer than expected to process him, he will appear tomorrow morning.

Members of the Counties Manukau Child Protection Team are still searching the man's home.

The operation was co-ordinated by the Police Online Child Exploitation Across New Zealand (OCEANZ) unit, a specialist team set up in 2009 as part of a global task force focused on online child sexual exploitation.

OCEANZ head Detective Senior Sergeant John-Paul Michael said the man was arrested shortly before he was due to leave the country for Thailand.

"The unit is working closely with other agencies and international partners to identify and track offenders involved in the online sexual exploitation of children in New Zealand and overseas.

"New Zealanders who think they can travel abroad to commit these horrendous offences against children can expect to be targeted and arrested," he said.

It was the first time a charge of organising a child sex tour had been laid against an individual in New Zealand, Mr Michael said.

- NZPA