Christchurch prostitutes' battle for toilets

The idea of a designated red-light district on the city's Manchester St were thrown out last year. Photo / Sarah Ivey

Christchurch sex workers are continuing in their battle to get toilets installed on their red light patch.

Prostitutes have used the northern end of Manchester St to sell their wares for decades.

But ever since the 2010-11 earthquakes, they have wandered further into residential areas, prompting complaints from local residents.

There has also been increased safety fears from the street workers, who have called for better lighting and security cameras.

Last year, Christchurch city councillors Ali Jones and Pauline Cotter raised the idea of a designated red-light district on the city's Manchester St, between Bealey Ave and Kilmore St.

The well-lit 25m long site was designed to include toilets, increased security measures, and needle dumps.

However, after local residents and landowners were consulted, the plans were thrown out.

New Zealand Prostitutes' Collective Christchurch representative Anna Reed today said toilet facilities are "long overdue".

She said it was "demeaning" for sex workers to go without such basic amenities.

The collective has approached the council for many years, she said, over the need for toilet facilities that could be made available for the general public , but sex workers too.

"It's not a big ask," she said.

Street outreach workers often witness people coming home from pubs and clubs "peeing shop doorways", which is often blamed on street workers, Ms Reed said.

A Christchurch City Council spokeswoman confirmed that the temporary site was not supported by land owners or neighbours.

"Recently we started discussing the issue of suitable temporary sites with CCDU (Christchurch Central Development Unit) / CERA (Canterbury Earthquake Recovery Authority), but there has been no outcome as yet," she said.