Safe sex workers distributed a total of 17,046 holiday condom and lube packs to gay hotspots around New Zealand over the summery Christmas and New Year break, says the NZ AIDS Foundation.

Condom requests and distribution was significantly higher than in Summer 2008/9 when 11,000 packs were given out. Staff and volunteers from the NZAF were at LGBT summer camps Vinegar Hill and Uretiti Beach between 22 December 2009 and 3 January 2010, and condoms were also distributed to bars, sex on site venues and other places where gay and bisexual men enjoy each other during the summer break.

A noteworthy part of the increase is due to the high number of condom requests received via NZAF websites BroOnline.co.nz and GetItOn.co.nz.

"The huge increase in condoms suggests that gay and bisexual men are definitely supporting a condom culture in New Zealand," says Jordan Harris, NZAF Programme Manager Community Engagement and Kaiārahi.

"17,046 free condom and lube packs going out in the Christmas and New Year break alone is amazing! This is something to be celebrated – by using condoms and lube gay and bisexual men can take control of the HIV epidemic and take care of themselves and the people they care about," he adds.

"We're thrilled that people are using the NZAF websites developed during 2009 to access holiday condom packs online as well as in the places where condom and lube packs have always been available."

Thousands more condom and lube packs will be distributed throughout 2010, and the gay men's health team in Auckland and Wellington are always on the lookout for more volunteers to put together the condom and lube packs at their regular social gathering, where free snacks and drinks are provided. To join the 'condom crew', email contact@nzaf.org.nz.

Free condom and lube packs can be ordered from the Get it On website.