New Zealand parliament approves referendum on euthanasia.

Alex Schadenberg
Executive Director, Euthanasia Prevention Coalition

The New Zealand parliament has been debating a euthanasia bill for many months. On October 23, the New Zealand parliament agreed to a referendum enabling the people to decide if they want to legalize euthanasia, based on the David Seymour euthanasia bill.

According to a Newshub article, the decision to have a euthanasia referendum passed by a close vote (63 to 57). The referendum was approved after the New Zealand First party stated that they would not support the “End of Life Choice” euthanasia bill without a referendum.

Channelnewsasia reported that National lawmaker Harete Hipango described the euthanasia legislation as “abhorrent, repugnant and also dangerous”.

“This is a kill bill. My focus and my intention is that I seek to kill this bill because of the repugnancy of what it intends to do,” he said. 

“The state has a duty of care to protect our most vulnerable.” 

The referendum will take place at the same time as the general election next year.

The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition does not take a position on whether a referendum is a good way to deal with the issue but we will be providing information and educational research to the people who lead the No campaign.