Sex is just what doctor ordered

Dr Neil Benson outside the Coopers Beach surgery he has converted into a brothel. Picture / John Stone

Whalers, the Far North brothel set up by a GP in his former medical practice rooms, is now open for business.

The surgery-turned-bordello's operational start follows a low-key opening celebration hosted by Dr Neil Benson and his wife, Helen, on the premises in Coopers Beach, near Mangonui, last night.

So far, three young women with professional sex industry experience in Auckland have agreed to work in the establishment after a recruiting foray to Australia proved unsuccessful.

"There'll be three until summer because we want them to be busy. It's not quite the number we'd like to have and we need more, especially more lady escorts," Dr Benson said yesterday.

In a recent adjustment of the business plan, the Canadian GP and his wife decided the Whalers staff should be self-employed, independent workers.

"We take a room fee, they set their own [for clients]. They figure out what they're worth and choose the hours they want to work," he says. "Helen and I will make sure it works well for them and we'll look after their needs."

Prospects for immediate action this weekend appeared uncertain last night.

"We've got people who want appointments but we haven't taken any bookings yet," Dr Benson said. "Our focus has been to get this place going."

After several planned opening dates came and went, alterations inside and out have been completed to accommodate the former surgery's new role in the small commercial and industrial area off State Highway 10.

Yesterday, Dr Benson revealed an innovative and proposed additional activity. This involves making the premises available to couples in the community who might want to rent a bordello room "to spice up their regular sex life in a racy place".

About 30 people attended last night's opening gathering, including friends of the Bensons and others Dr Benson described as "interested media".

Dr Benson, who has four children, gave up his sole practice last year after an unresolved dispute with the local Far North Primary Health Organisation involving after-hours callouts and rostered weekend cover for doctors in Kaitaia.

He maintains that the Tai Tokerau PHO put him out of business and that he had no option but to close his practice, a claim the PHO has always strongly denied.