A Tauranga-based dominatrix says she's "really frustrated" existing clients and new customers are willing to put themselves at risk for a good time.
The woman, who asked not to be named, says she's been receiving around six or seven requests a day for meet-ups during lockdown.
She's urging anyone looking to rendezvous with sex workers over the next couple of weeks to "behave yourselves" so the country can get going again.
"It makes me feel really frustrated people aren't taking it seriously," she told Newshub. "It's a bit of short-term pain for long-term gain."
Fed up over the blatant lack of care for the rules, the woman has been having a little fun responding to requests for her company.
She told one man asking her to visit him at home he'd better be "really careful" handing out his address because police have set up a sting, and they'll come to his place and bust him.
"I thought nothing is working because once they get a no from you, they just move on to the next one and try them all," she explained.
"He replied to me, 'that's scary, thanks for the heads up' and I thought, that's not scary, your attitude is scary."
She was shocked when she told another man who tried to proposition her that she actually had coronavirus, and he still was happy to see her.
The mid-40s woman says it's been disappointing, as sticking to the rules means New Zealanders can get back to normal life as quickly as possible.
"It's important to me for the country to get on track. It's scary what's happening overseas. I'm really proud to be in a country where we're taking it seriously and I'm really proud of our government."
Sex work is the woman's primary income, but she is receiving the Government's $585 weekly subsidy as the profession is legal in New Zealand. As she also has another part-time job, she receives the part-time subsidy too.
"As far as I can see, it's not about identifying or outing anybody, it's just about making sure we can sustain ourselves without having to go and break the law," she said.
The woman would normally make about $1600 a week from her work as a dominatrix but says she's comfortable on savings to get through.
"Sure, I'm not earning as much as I usually do, but nobody is and you just have to accept that."
She knows others in her industry who have turned to webcam work online, as well as phone work and texting to make ends meet.
Prostitutes Collective national coordinator Dame Catharine Healy told Newshub the "enormously concerning" pressure sex workers are under has been consistent.
"Tens of thousands of people pay for sex in this country, a persistent few have been still seeking to pay for sex, fortunately, the majority of sex workers have taken it seriously."
In-person sex work is not permitted at alert level 3, with confirmation still to come regarding level 2. However Dame Healy says it's likely meetings won't resume as normal until alert level 1.
