The increase in HIV infections in New Zealand is not an indication that condoms are ineffective, says the AIDS Foundation's research director, Tony Hughes. Hughes was responding to a number of comments made over the last week that link the recent increase in HIV infections to the alleged ineffectiveness of condoms. Radio Pacific host Ian Wishart on Friday questioned the wisdom of condoms being promoted in schools, because they have a “failure rate”. “And marriages, fidelity, communication and honesty don't have a failure rate also?” Hughes asks. Hughes says that recent research conducted over the past 15 years in Europe, Asia and Africa has consistently shown that condoms are an effective method against HIV prevention, with close to one hundred percent efficacy when used properly. Further research conducted by the European Union has shown that HIV cannot pass through the pores in latex condoms as had been suggested.