New Zealand was the first country to decriminalise all sectors of the sex industry and in this book we have provided some sound reasoning as to why and how this came about. The chapter on the history of the New Zealand Prostitutes’ Collective (NZPC) highlights the strong non-government organisation sector within New Zealand and how it has been supported by government. The coming together of the original nine founding members and the development of the NZPC, within a non-hierarchical structure, were influential in highlighting the human rights violations brought about by the laws that criminalised sex workers. As an organisation, NZPC created an inclusive atmosphere that provided support for sex workers across all sectors of the industry. The New Zealand government appointed NZPC members on to key committees such as the National Council on AIDS and also provided funding for this organisation from October 1988. NZPC increasingly raised its profile and credibility in the public arena. Its key role in initiating the call for decriminalisation cannot be overstated, as undoubtedly this legislation would not have been on the agenda without its commitment. As NZPC is the only sex worker organisation in New Zealand, it presented a united front for sex workers in campaigning for decriminalisation. Perhaps this can be seen as a particular strength, as in countries such as Canada and Australia there are several sex worker organisations across the different states, some of which are not peer-run organisations. There are philosophical differences between such organisations that might make it difficult for them to work cohesively towards a goal of policy change.

NZPC's drive for decriminalisation was an intellectual one, driven from the boardroom as opposed to the streets. The danger of relying on street protests for law reform is that it could engender a backlash through raising the visibility of sex workers, creating anxiety and moral panic among the general public. Instead, NZPC negotiated at the highest level, often with very conservative organisations and politicians. Through its effective networking, it gathered increasing support for decriminalisation. The women's movement in New Zealand has been influential in the reform of many laws affecting women, including employment, domestic violence, matrimonial property and paid parental leave (Duncan, 2007). Many women's organisations worked alongside NZPC in lobbying for decriminalisation.