Sex industry laid bare

Published: 10:25AM Monday May 18, 2009

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Laid bare
Dominatrix, escort, street worker - she's done them all. In fact Rachel Francis was so good she eventually ran her own brothel. As a prostitute for nearly 25 years, the former lady of the night has seen nearly everything there is to see in New Zealand's sex industry. It's a world many of us are curious about, but will never experience. Rachel takes 20/20's Beth Roche behind the scenes of some of the country's most exclusive brothels, exposing the secret lives of our neighbourhoods. Offering everything from her take on decriminalising prostitution, to what men really want in bed, Rachel Francis tells it like it is.

Tiger burger
The traditional saying is that if you love something you should set it free. But a new hardcore group of campaigners say we should eat it instead. They say outlawing the trade in endangered species like tigers is simply making the situation worse, and the only way to save them is to allow them to be legally farmed. As they tell 20/20, they believe chickens will never die out because it's legal to eat them. Are they right, or crazy? We investigate.

Gun play
New Zealand's gun trade is coming under increasing scrutiny after the Napier siege, with questions about how many unlicensed gun owners are out there, and how safely those weapons are being stored. It's a question that's troubled America, and occasionally New Zealand, with news reports about young people playing with their parent's guns and accidentally shooting themselves, or a friend. 20/20 puts teenagers who should know better to the test, in a provocative experiment. Would your teens know what to do?

Tainted tastes
Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis fall sick every year thanks to food-borne illnesses and some say it's time to take another look at the controversial practice of food irradiation. Critics say it's the equivalent of nuking the food you eat but as one man whose son died after eating a tainted burger tells 20/20, it's a no-brainer. We put it under the microscope and to the taste test.

PLUS Mass Appeal - It's something everyone can be part of - one of the whacky attempts to set a world record by a massive number of people. We'll bring you the Kiwi who helped make a difference at a record-setting event in Ireland - the kissing couples who lock lips all in the name of posterity, and the cork poppers determined to shower the streets with champagne.

The best of New Zealand and international current affairs - 20/20 - presented by Miriama Kamo with reporters Pete Cronshaw, Beth Roche and Sonya Wilson

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  • Pam Moore said on 2011-10-21 @ 09:42 NZDT: Report abusive post

    What a fantastic family little Eva has they are all so brave and positive.

  • dee_licious88 said on 2011-09-30 @ 11:41 NZDT: Report abusive post

    It's scary seeing The Marlborough Kids. When most of the country's population smoke and it's been like that for decades, it's very hard for people to change. This is a country where cigarettes are advertised freely everywhere and they don't ask for ID. I used to love the clove cigarettes, that's how I started smoking (I've been smoke-free for 3 years now). I hope one day it gets better and people would understand better that smoking shouldn't be encouraged.

  • greg_nz said on 2011-09-16 @ 12:16 NZDT: Report abusive post

    The win a wife competition was a set up. It takes over a month to get a visa for the Ukraine. The NZ man drought is caused by mail order brides, see latest issue of NZ population review on the feminisation of immigrients here. The average NZ single male has a hard time here, especially if they dont do the bar hoe thing. I have given up dating local women, my best option is to look overseas for a relationship/wife, I'm 48 working semi professional career, I'm invisable here.

  • bonnie96 said on 2011-08-25 @ 22:11 NZDT: Report abusive post

    Pregnant Men: why did they end up together, they are both female and want to be men. Realistically they could of been happy as Lesbians. So what attracted them together. It was not because they wanted to be with a male, that cause is proof. If he is happy to give birth to children than why not become a female again. He can still where jeans and a shirt. I feel sorry for the baby, a male cannot give birth to a baby.

  • majordeath said on 2011-07-29 @ 19:42 NZDT: Report abusive post

    I would like to add to your story on Baby Daddy's. Why not show a positive side because sometimes it can work out. My Daughter and her partner were just 18 year olds when they became parents. They had been dating for two years and all of a sudden thrown into adult life. It hasn't been easy but now they are both 21, still together, and my Grandaughter is a happy healthy 3 year old. They both work hard, have savings for them and the child, and my Daughter does volenteer work. Not bad aye?

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