Radio stint triggers sharp words on suicide

A breakfast interview yesterday became a sharp political dispute a few hours later when Labour leader Jacinda Ardern was accused by a National MP of being open to “suicide” of the elderly by euthanasia.

The charge came from Tamaki MP Simon O’Connor — and was followed by a text from National leader Bill English to his MP telling him it was wrong to link suicide and euthanasia.

English said yesterday afternoon that neither he nor his party agreed with the backbench MP’s comments on the issue.

“We don’t link euthanasia and suicide,” English said.

“In both cases, what’s important here is compassion for people who are vulnerable.”

Asked later on the campaign trail about O’Connor, Ardern said she respected his right to have a view on euthanasia — but conflating it with suicide was wrong.

“To confuse the issue of euthanasia with New Zealand’s staggering and devastating suicide stats is just wrong.”

She said it was up to O’Connor to decide whether to pursue the issue. Asked if she was offended by his comments, she said she expected families affected would be more offended.

O’Connor, who chaired Parliament’s health select committee which investigated public attitudes toward euthanasia, insisted he had nothing to apologise for.

“At one level saying youth suicide is bad, but saying other forms of suicide are acceptable, that’s an inconsistency. That’s always been the approach I’ve had,” he told Newshub.

The exchange followed an interview Ardern had with Larry Williams on Newstalk ZB’s Leaders Breakfast in Auckland. Mike Hosking was set to host it but is ill.

Of the election race, Ardern said a lot could still change in the next

Ardern was also asked about New Zealand First leader Winston Peters’ comments to the Herald that he would not talk to Labour about forming a coalition unless Labour set out what it planned for taxes such as capital gains tax.

Ardern said Labour had not yet had any discussions with Peters and that would wait until after the election.

“We’ve shared exactly what our intent is with the public and with Winston.”

She denied a capital gains tax was inevitable once the tax working group she intended to form had reported back.

But she said if something had the potential to make it easier to buy a first home it was incumbent on her to do that.

Asked about family homes held by trusts, she said she had a clear expectation that any tax should not touch a family home.