Draft:Funhouse Wellington

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Funhouse Wellington is a long-running and established brothel in Te Aro, central Wellington, New Zealand, where sex work and brothel keeping are both decriminalised. It was established in 2005 by madam and dominatrix Mary Brennan. In its early years it was located in the outer Wellington suburbs, but it moved to the Central Business District in 2011. It features frequently in the media, and in sex work documentaries about sex worker rights and the New Zealand model of sex work decriminalisation.

New Zealand brothel law

Funhouse Wellington is a legal brothel, established 2 years post-decriminalisation of sex work in New Zealand. Under the New Zealand model, brothels can only be owned/managed by people with a Brothel Operators Certificate, which are court issued and include a criminal records check. The exception to this is where sex workers run a small brothel themselves collectively, of up to 4 sex workers, which do not require certificates. Funhouse belongs to the former category of brothels.

Under New Zealand Prostitution Reform Act 2003, all brothels must also ensure its workers are over 18 years old, safer sex practices are mandatory, the fine system that previously operated in many brothels was made illegal, and a sex work specific Health and Safety guide came into force. All brothels must also allow the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective access. New Zealand sex work law emphasises that sexual consent can also be withdrawn at any time, including after payment has been made.

Funhouse Wellington brothel

While sex work is decriminalised, Funhouse Wellington is by appointment only, and the address is not advertised, nor is the venue signposted. There is no open reception space or bar space, which were typical of traditional New Zealand brothels, but are considered indiscreet.

The interior of Funhouse is purpose-built.  Its aesthetic hinges on dark mid-century interior design features and artwork, with luxury and vintage furniture. It has been likened by one journalist to a boutique hotel. Another journalist described the Funhouse interior as 'Filled with retro furniture, low lighting, plush rugs and soft leather couches, it looks like the kind of place where you would drink whiskey with Don Draper.'

While Funhouse is an in-call premise, outcalls to Wellington hotels are also offered.

Clients

Funhouse Wellington explicitly advertises to both women clients, couples, as well as men and gender non-conforming clients. It has a mix of international clients, local clients, and those travelling from around the country.

Its client guide to etiquette and consent emphasises safer sex practices as ethical and legal requirements, as well as the ability of the sex workers to withdraw consent if they feel boundaries are being disrespected, or for any other reason.

Services

Funhouse is a full service brothel, with sexual services such as Girlfriend Experience (GFE) and Pornstar Experience (PSE) offered. However, Women to Women, Bi-Doubles, Couples, Kink, Fetish & Fantasy bookings also take place.

Funhouse was the first full-service brothel in New Zealand to also offer Sensual Massage alongside full service bookings. Although prior to decriminalisation of sex work, some brothels masqueraded as massage parlours, massage was a front for other services. Post-decriminalisation this pretence was dropped. Funhouse re-introduced sensual massage back into the brothel vernacular, but as a genuine service in and of itself, and where sexual intercourse does not take place.

Funhouse was the first New Zealand brothel to offer bookings under the term/concept 'Kinky GFE', the incorporation of light BDSM into bookings where sex and kissing is also offered. This is in contrast to traditional BDSM bookings between a dominatrix and client, where neither of these take place. A variety of more traditional BDSM also takes place at Funhouse, although the scope of these sessions are detailed in its kink portal, the MM Club.  Exact services are determined by individual dominatrixes themselves, but include foot fetish, body worship, bondage, rolepay, corporal punishment, face-sitting, and edging.

Work conditions

Funhouse Wellington is owned by Mary Brennan who has worked extensively as a dominatrix, and who emphasises the importance of sex worker authority and control over working conditions:  'Funhouse supports workers rights to affirmative consent, body autonomy, safety and emotional support at all times.'

Under the Funhouse model, sex workers do not have shifts but determine their own hours of availability, and are on-call during those hours. The sex workers at Funhouse determine themselves which kind of bookings and services they offer, and which clients they see.

Funhouse Wellington owner Mary Brennan is outspoken on sex worker rights and law reform. She was a committee member on the Prostitution Law Review (2008), nominated by the Minister of Commerce.

Kevin the Funhouse cat

Funhouse has a resident cat, Kevin, with her own page dedicated to her on the Funhouse website, and she also features on social media in some of the sex worker's accounts. Her presence during opening hours is restricted to the worker's lounge and staff areas.

Funhouse Wellington in the media

Print media

1. 'The Dominatrix next door' (2015) Emma Clifton, Now to Love
2. 'Mary Brennan' (2015) Michele Hewitson, New Zealand Herald
3. 'Inside the Funhouse' (2016) Radio New Zealand
4. 'Sugar dating warning' (2021) New Zealand Herald
5. 'From fishmonger to brothel boss - the secret life of a Kiwi dominatrix' (2021) Katie Harris, New Zealand Herald

Video

1. The Oldest Profession - Inside The Fun House (2016) Radio New Zealand
2. Funhouse Presents: Ask Madam - Sex Industry Models (2019)
3. Alice Snedden's Bad News | Episode 1 - Migrant Sex Workers (2020)

Radio and Audio recordings

1. Different desires (2009) Oral History Project
2. Mary Brennan: domination and submission (2015) Radio New Zealand