Child sex tourism arrest an NZ first

File photo / Martin Sykes

There is hope the first ever New Zealand arrest over the child sex tourism industry will send a strong message.

A 46-year-old Auckland motel and property manager is accused of organising and promoting child sex tours to South East Asia, and dealing in children for sexual exploitation.

Alan Bell of the anti-child-prostitution group ECPAT hopes the arrest will serve as a strong warning. He says all types of child exploitation are driven by profit - and where there is money to be made, people are willing to get involved.

Mr Bell says the international organisation is dedicated to ending child prostitution and works tirelessly to stop the trade.

- Newstalk ZB