Three-quarters support euthanasia: poll

Most people are in support of medically assisted dying, a new poll has revealed.

The Horizon poll found 75 per cent of the 1300 people surveyed favoured a law change to allow the terminally ill to be helped to end their lives peacefully. Only 11 per cent were opposed. The largest support group was in the 65-to-74 age range. Of that group, 82 per cent agreed.

End-of-Life Choice Society president Maryan Street urged MPs to consider these results in the lead-up to the election.

“Not only does this poll show increased support for end-of-life choice since the last time it was conducted on my own bill in 2012, when 63 per cent were in favour, it shows how small the opposition is by comparison. This is a testament to the compassion of New Zealanders.”

Act Party leader David Seymour’s voluntary euthanasia bill was plucked from the ballot on June 8. He believed he had the numbers to at least get it past the first hurdle.

Seymour said 40 MPs had indicated they would support it, while 27 said they would oppose it. A further 50 had said they were undecided.

He needs 61 votes for a majority at the first reading. While that is likely to take place before the September election, Seymour did not expect it to pass through all stages this parliamentary term.

There were 22,000 submissions on a petition to legalise euthanasia in 2016, the majority of which were against legalisation.

Pakeha people were most likely to vote in favour on the poll. Almost 80 per cent said they were in support, whereas Asians provided the most opposition with only 49 per cent in favour.

Fewer people voted in favour of medical assistance to die for people with irreversible conditions, such as motor neuron disease, which may not cause death in the immediate future, with 66 per cent in favour compared with 75 per cent who voted in favour of assisted dying for terminally ill patients.

The poll was conducted nationwide last month from May 16 to 23 among 1274 people aged 18 and over. The results were weighted to represent the adult population at the most recent Census. The margin of error is 2.7 per cent.