The Marlborough District Council will look into a bylaw to regulate the appearance industry after receiving complaints of poor practices and hygiene issues.
By Kira Carrington, Local Democracy Reporter
Councillors heard about the environmental health team’s intention to investigate an appearance industry bylaw at the Environment and Planning committee meeting on Thursday.
The appearance industry covered cosmetic procedures such as waxing, manicures and pedicures, derma-blading, micro-needling, tattooing, and body piercings.
Council environmental health officers Georgia Murrin and Mary Ann Douthett said the council had received an increasing number of formal and informal complaints about practices at Marlborough’s appearance industry providers.
"Our investigations into these premises have shown instances of substandard hygiene practices," Douthett said.
"Initial contact with the appearance industry operators have shown support for some form of regulation."
Murrin said the environmental health team would be conducting a survey of industry providers on the types of procedures they offered and their hygiene practices next, before beginning a public consultation within the next month.
The team would then report back to council with a recommendation for regulation.
The types of appearance procedures had become more expansive and complex in the past 20 years, Murrin said.
"This does run the risk of infection and potential short and long-term health impacts,”"she said.
While the council was able to investigate environmental health complaints under the Health Act, it had limited ability to enforce procedural standards without a bylaw, Murrin said.
There were 16 councils that had appearance industry bylaws, Murrin said, but there was no regulation on a national level.
"Our professional body, the New Zealand Institute of Environmental Health, is actively lobbying Government to develop national legislation, however, there is no indication that this is imminent," she said.
Mayor Nadine Taylor asked if a prospective bylaw would be able to enforce age and parental consent restrictions on tattoos and body piercings.
"I have had some feedback fairly recently, from a parent whose 14-year-old daughter got multiple piercings without their consent," Taylor said.
"They questioned whether there was an opportunity for council, like some other councils, perhaps to [institute] a bylaw into that space."
Members of the Tattoo Artists Association of New Zealand would not tattoo anyone under the age of 18 without parental consent under their code of ethics, however there was no legal enforcement beyond industry guidelines.
Councillor Sally Arbuckle said she supported the investigation as someone who had previously worked in the industry.
She said had spoken to tattooists who strongly felt there should be regulation in the industry.
"There is a lot of work done on people who are dealing with a tattoo, [you’re] dealing with people's blood," she said.
'And [in] other industries you're dealing with a lot of chemicals that you're putting on people, very strong chemicals that can do a lot of damage.
"So I think some guidelines around these areas is a very good idea."
Councillor Gerald Hope said they should be cautious not to be too heavy-handed with any regulation.
"It’s a sector that's new to me... maybe it’s an opportunity for someone to set up an appearance parlour for middle-aged men," Hope said.
"But I just caution councillors to treat this one with some objectivity as to whether we should be involved in it or not, it may not be our sector of responsibility."
- LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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