Investigations are underway after a group of former support workers for intellectually impaired people say they were ordered to help those in their care to masturbate.
New Zealand Care, the former employer of the six Nelson women concerned, has denied the allegations.
One of the women is still employed by New Zealand Care.
The women claim the orders were made during three staff training sessions over the past 18 months - the reason being that clients had the right to be masturbated and that should be done by the care giver.
However, New Zealand Care says the women may have mistaken a general ethical discussion for orders.
It was supposed to be that if a client required it, a sex worker could be hired, rather than for care workers to carry out masturbation of clients.
New Zealand Care is investigating the allegations.
3 News