A bill giving Auckland Council the power to ban street prostitution in public places like Hunters Corner and Northcrest looks unlikely to be passed into law, the MP sponsoring it says.

Manurewa MP George Hawkins says soundings among MPs from all parties indicate the bill "won't get very far at all" even if it gets out of select committee before the November elections.There's little support for it, despite MPs voting 82-36 last September to send it for public submissions, Mr Hawkins says.

"People from right across the House weren't in favour of seeing the bill passed into law but they were prepared to let people have their say on it in select committee."

The bill, originally promoted by the old Manukau City Council, is now being amended by the Auckland Council to apply regionwide.

Extending it to "a third of New Zealand's population" is likely to reduce its already slim chances, Mr Hawkins says.

"I never try to second-guess Parliament but it's not likely to pass in its present form and probably won't pass in amended form.

"I don't think any of the main parties are wanting to go back and talk about prostitution at all."

He suspects the bill will get "voted down at its second reading" like Manukau's previous attempt in 2006.

The objections to this bill are the same, Mr Hawkins says.

"They don't like the idea of legislation that deals with a social problem that may be widespread in other areas being done as a local bill."

It's also criticised by MPs and submitters as unworkable, dangerous for public health and contrary to the Prostitution Reform Act, the Bill of Rights and New Zealand's obligations under international agreements.

The select committee is now waiting for the council to amend the bill to reflect its wider reach and to publicly notify the changes.

Chairman Chris Auchinvole says it's important that the public is "fully aware of potential changes to the geographic area to which the bill could apply".

The committee's report to Parliament has been delayed until September 8 and Mr Auchinvole says they could yet call for further submissions.

Mr Hawkins says MPs won't want to debate street prostitution that close to the elections so the bill could be held over to the new Parliament. That will mean finding a new sponsor because he's retiring.

Whatever the bill's fate, he believes the push must continue for a "totally new law" banning street prostitution in public places that also targets clients.

The mayor's office says nothing's been done about choosing another local MP to sponsor the bill but any decision would be up to the council.