This report presents information on New Zealand's response to the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Child prostitution, pornography, sex tourism and trafficking are examined in turn, including a discussion on the laws, policies, agency efforts and programmes employed to counter these forms of child abuse and exploitation. Research findings suggest that child prostitution is an ever-increasing phenomenon in New Zealand, with no single causal factor as to why this is the case. This paper proposes that transgendered youth may be particularly vulnerable to becoming involved in child prostitution due to the discrimination and marginalisation of this group of people in society. Child pornography is also on the increase in New Zealand, and this report discusses the coordinated efforts of government departments, such as Internal Affairs and the Police, in addressing this problem. Child sex tourism and trafficking are identified as notoriously difficult issues to investigate and prosecute. The report suggests that eliminating child exploitation and abuse is best achieved through a combined multi-agency and government departmental approach. Additionally, education surrounding the issue of child abuse in general is required to raise public awareness of this global problem. Copy archived by National Library of New Zealand.

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