By James Addis. An anti-euthanasia activist who fronts the national #DefendNZ campaign says the debate on the End of Life Choice Act (EOLCA) is far from over. Henoch Kloosterboer says since the passing of the Act, advocacy for the vulnerable has become more critical than ever. “Some New Zealanders now wield the state-sanctioned legal power to deliberately end the lives of others, or to assist in their suicides,” he says.

By Michael Cook. Research shows that the experience of losing a parent through suicide is a risk factor for children. How about assisted suicide and euthanasia? Does assisted dying ( euthanasia and assisted suicide) have a negative impact upon other people? It’s rare for this question to be raised in debates. If it is, supporters dismiss it – it’s my life and it’s none of their business, is their response.

By Tom Hunt. Many millennials are forecast to die badly with reports of a palliative care system already struggling on dwindling fundraising and experts saying we already have a “postcode lottery” determining who dies in pain. “It is ironic that the new end-of-life-choice service is fully funded, and our hospice care funded less than 50 per cent.”

By Lee Harding. Recently released statistics and anecdotal accounts have caused anti-euthanasia activists increased concern, as they believe medically assisted death is not only permitted, but encouraged. Medically assisted deaths in Quebec rose to 2,426 in the year ending March 31, an increase of 37 percent over the year before.

By Michael Cook. On Friday the Parliament of NSW began its debate on the controversial bill to legalise “voluntary assisted dying”. Premier, Dominic Perrottet said, “A strong society protects and cherishes its most fragile members. This bill at its heart enshrines a new principle—that we can intentionally help terminate the lives of certain people to end their suffering. It turns on its head a bedrock of our ethics—that we help, not hurt; that we offer hope, not harm.”

By Danielle van Dalen. I would never expect my doctor's pay cheque to come from “cakes and op shops”. But for New Zealand's palliative care services, this is the reality. Fundraising is required to cover about half of the costs of Hospice NZ each year. $77m must be fundraised every year to cover the shortfall; much of that coming from op-shops.

By Right To Life News: As New Zealand’s euthanasia legislation comes into effect, anti-euthanasia campaigners have launched an initiative to begin the path towards repealing the legislation and protecting the vulnerable. #DefendNZ has launched a new campaign to “protect” the vulnerable from the new law, and to “expose and improve” the law as it is written.

By James Addis. Harbour Hospice has taken a stand against assisted dying, refusing to allow medication designed to hasten death to be administered at any of its facilities. Harbour Hospice chief executive Jan Nichols says Hospice has taken the position based on the “global philosophy of hospice care”, which is “to neither hasten nor postpone death.”

By Thomas Manch. Ministry of Health officials have highlighted “complex and sensitive elements” to the End of Life Choice Act. Among the issues: competing pressures in the health system, possible need to rewrite parts of the law to resolve “legislative issues”, and numerous unresolved questions and risks surrounding assisted dying services.

By Ben Leonard. About one in five disabled adults cannot afford to visit a GP – hindered by consultation and transport costs. The Government’s planned changes to disability support must address the cost of accessing primary healthcare, the Disability Rights Commissioner says.

By Guyon Espiner. More than a 1000 people are expected to request to end their lives in the first year of New Zealand's assisted dying regime. The lack of doctors willing to carry out assisted dying may lead to those doctors who are willing to have to travel the country administering euthanasia if the service is not available in all areas.

By Guyon Espiner. Patients requesting euthanasia will be given unapproved, unregulated and "off label" medicines, sparking warnings of prolonged and distressing deaths. People who chose to swallow or ingest the fatal medicines, rather than taking them intravenously, would be given drugs that were compounded (mixed up) by a pharmacist and provided to the patient without being approved by regulator Medsafe.

By Guyon Espiner. What happens if a patient doesn't die during a euthanasia attempt? That's one of a number of ethical and legal questions being asked by palliative care experts who say we are woefully unprepared to introduce assisted dying. “Death doesn't necessarily follow within minutes or even hours, it can take a lot longer and well documented cases of stuff not working."

By Guyon Espiner. Palliative care specialists fear health practitioners with as little as six hours online training could end up providing euthanasia for patients who would have wanted to live if they had proper care and pain relief. Their concerns come as a new Ministry of Health survey reveals fewer than a third of health practitioners are prepared to participate in the assisted dying regime.

By Joan Bryden. Intolerably suffering Canadians who are not near the natural end of their lives now have the right to seek medical assistance in dying. But disability rights groups have strenuously opposed the bill, arguing it devalues the lives of people with disabilities, particularly those who are Black, racialized, Indigenous or marginalized.

By Will Harvie. Medical students become more opposed to euthanasia as they progress through medical school, a new study has found. Almost 65 per cent of second year medical students at Otago University supported euthanasia or assisted dying, compared with 39 per cent in fifth year, the researchers found.

By Mike Houlahan. An Otago doctor believes the Ministry of Health is trying to use money to entice medical professionals into offering euthanasia services. “I was shocked when, upon answering that I will not take part in assisted dying, the MoH survey offered the following question: ‘What areas would you want more information on for you to be willing to provide assisted dying services?’’”

By Eva Corlett. Doctors are gearing up for a hefty year of planning and preparation with the End of Life Choice Act set to come into force. The New Zealand Medical Association opposed the law, but its chair Dr Kate Baddock said the country had spoken. The law allows doctors to be conscientious objectors of euthanasia.

By Dr Huhana Hickey MNZM. In 12 months assisted dying will be legal as, unsurprisingly, the mainstream demographic has predictably spoken with a 65.2 per cent yes vote in the preliminary results. I remain opposed to this law for two reasons – those being the risk to indigenous people and the disabled, as evidenced by international research in countries where it is legal.

By Hannah Martin. Assisted dying and euthanasia will be legal in New Zealand next year, with the public voting through the End of Life Choice Act. The Electoral Commission released the preliminary results on Friday afternoon. Meanwhile, conservative lobby group Family First has called the result a “sad and dangerous day for the vulnerable”.

The Hauge. The Netherlands moved towards making euthanasia legal for terminally-ill children aged between one and 12 after the coalition government on Tuesday (Oct 13) backed the move. Health minister Hugo de Jonge said he would now draft regulations for the practice, after a study by experts showed some children were suffering "hopelessly".

By Dr Hirini Kaa. I’m voting no on the End of Life Choice (EOLC) referendum. I have many concerns about this legislation, including around the technical aspects and operation of the law. But I’m also very concerned about its impact on the vulnerable and marginalised in our society. Here are my top four reasons.

By Richard McLeod. Although privileged New Zealanders who become terminally ill may have many other choices available to them, the law will also apply to terminally ill New Zealanders who are vulnerable and weak. For them, the “Your life your choice” mantra rings hollow. There’s no compassion in ending the life of someone who has little or no other choice.

By Kevin Campbell. It is of further serious concern is the process by which the End of Life Choice Act has got to a binding referendum, together with the poor understanding among voters of what the referendum is about. It is significant, but shameful, that Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has stated she believed that euthanasia should never have gone to a referendum.

By Dr Ben Gray. The End of Life Choice Act will require significant resources which may only benefit a small number of older, educated white people, argues the University of Otago's Dr Ben Gray. “Changing the status quo now will require focus on this issue and take attention away from the much more serious issues of responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.”

By Ellen O'Dwyer. In the years he was mobile, Rachel would curl the ball through the goal posts of his walker, practising her winning kicks. Rachel Major shared her love of football with her dad Glenn until she was nine. Glenn died at the age of 42 of a brain tumour, having been diagnosed with cancer before Rachel was born.

By Grant Illingworth QC. As New Zealanders, we like the idea of having a choice. We also like the idea of showing compassion towards those who are suffering. Rightly so; but the assisted dying referendum does not involve voting about an idea; it concerns a set of rules that have already been drafted and enacted by Parliament. Those rules will come into force automatically if a majority vote in favour of them.

By Alex Perrottet. Most campaigners over the two referendums in this year's election are breathing a sigh of relief that voting day has been delayed another month, giving them time to change more minds. The two referendum topics have been subject to much debate this year, but for those most involved in the campaigning it's clearly not enough.

By Patrick Gower. Vicki Walsh was told in June 2011 her brain cancer diagnosis was terminal and she only had 12 to 14 months to live. However, now aged 53, Walsh has had nine more years of life since. She says that might not have happened if the choice of assisted dying had been available and will vote against legalising euthanasia in the referendum.

By Caralise Trayes. Most Kiwis aren't aware that the end of life choice act is not a concept they'll be voting for, but specific, unmovable legislation. And if we make a mistake, death is a heavy penalty, writes Caralise Trayes.

By Mike Corder. A Dutch organization that carries out euthanasia received 3,122 requests last year, a 22% increase from the year before, the Euthanasia Expertise Center said Friday. “Every work day, 13 people say: ‘Help me, I can’t go on,’” Steven Pleiter, director of the center formerly known as the End of Life Clinic, said.

By Jo Moir. New Zealanders now have the casting vote on whether to make euthanasia legal. Last night Parliament voted 69 votes to 51 in favour of the End of Life Choice Bill that proposes to make assisted dying legal for some terminally ill people. After New Zealand First secured a change three weeks ago to ensure the decision would be sent to a referendum, it will not be known whether the bill becomes law until next year.

By Henry Cooke. MPs have casted their final votes on the End of Life Choice Bill. That bill would set in motion a public vote on legalised euthanasia. "The most liberal Parliament in New Zealand's history has voted through this dangerous and permissive bill. Now the only hope of stopping euthanasia being legalised is through a referendum at the election," Maggie Barry said.

By Henry Cooke. David Seymour's End of Life Choice bill has passed its second reading 70-50 and is taking legal assisted dying one step closer to becoming law. Labour and National MPs voted with their conscience on the issue, while Green and NZ First MPs all voted in support. "We cannot risk one wrong death. This bill cannot guarantee that will not happen," Agnes Loheni said.

By Jannah Dennison. It is extraordinarily difficult to discuss suicide and euthanasia at the same time. But there is an urgent conversation to be had: what are the implications for New Zealand’s suicide prevention programme of introducing the End of Life Choice Bill?

Dr Mustafa Farouk QSM: FIANZ, the voice of New Zealand’s Muslim community since 1979, is opposed to euthanasia and the End of Life Choice Bill. We give voice to our concerns on behalf of our community. As New Zealand Muslims, we are worried that the vulnerability of our community members could be exploited if euthanasia is legalised by Parliament.

By Alex Perrottet. Checkpoint has run the numbers and canvassed experts views from around the country and overseas. Interviewees include Dr Otmar Kloiber - Secretary General of the World Medical Association, Robert Preston, Prof Margaret Somerville, Kate Baddock, Dr Rod MacLeod from Auckland's Hibiscus Hospice, Dr Sinead Donnelly and many more.

By Dr Amanda Landers. I get the feeling the general public think death is a black-and-white issue. I cannot think of a subject that has more grey. The answer to bad deaths is not euthanasia. The answer is a better understanding of basic medical ethics, of palliative medicine, of what happens to the body when it is dying, and how to care for  someone at the end of life.

By Derek Cheng. MPs opposing a bill that would legalise euthanasia are planning to put up more than 100 amendments that could push its possible passage well into next year. As currently drafted, the bill would allow New Zealanders to request assisted dying if they have a terminal illness or suffer from "a grievous and irremediable medical condition".

More than 1000 doctors have signed an open letter saying they want no part in what they call assisted suicide. Dr Sinead Donnelly, who organised the letter, said the bill is unworkable, “The message is that as doctors we don't want to be part of it. You're going to, in our view, destroy the profession of medicine by drawing us in to ending the life of our patients.”

By Grant Illingworth QC. The End of Life Choice Bill may be compelling in its rationale, but the execution of such a law would break the social contract the State has with some of our weakest and most vulnerable citizens and expose them to a dangerous new world in which manipulation and coercion could take on deadly consequences.

By Simon Shepherd & Finn Hogan. Speaking to Newshub Nation, Vicki Walsh sent a plea to politicians to oppose the Bill. “We need them to protect us from this bill because idealistically, it could look very appealing to some people. It’s what it opens up.”

The 58-year-old Kiwi euthanasia advocate who appeared in a Dunedin court in 2011 charged with attempting to murder his terminally ill mother in 2006, has now pleaded guilty to three cases of assisted suicide in South Africa. He faced charges of premedited murder at the Western Cape High Court. Renée Joubert of Euthanasia-Free NZ applauded the decision today.

Magic Drive with Ryan Bridge: Ryan Bridge speaks with a euthanasia expert, Professor of Bioethics, Margaret Somerville. “What we're doing here is legalising intentional killing. Now up until you've got some legislation that allows that, as you just have in Victoria, that is first degree murder! So we have to look at what happens with this – it gets normalised.”

Jim Mora interviews the UK’s Lord Carlile of Berriew QC. He has been involved in parliamentary activity in the UK for several years now, opposing euthanasia bills that have been presented, due to concerns over various safeguards. He explains why he opposes New Zealand's End of Life Choice Bill from a "secular, ethical dimension".

克莱尔17岁时因为车祸成为了四肢瘫痪者，她甚至安排自己去瑞士实施安乐死。想一想你可能与父母进行的最艰难的对话！一名新西兰女子，克莱尔·弗里曼 和她的爸爸，在不同的时间段，争论过是否要对自己着手实施安乐死。

By Chris Ford. Chris Ford, a former Green Party List MP Candidate, and current Green Party member explains from 'a socialist, progressive and disability rights perspective’ why he has now swung his support to the anti-euthanasia camp', now firmly in the 'no' side on the voluntary euthanasia legislation conversation.

By Janet McIntyre. Think about the most difficult conversation you could have with your parents. Claire Freeman is having it right now with her dad and our cameras are rolling. Claire is in a wheel chair after becoming a tetraplegic when she was 17. She’s made numerous attempts on her life and even made arrangements to go to Switzerland to be assisted to die.

Hayley Holt interviews Dr Kate Baddock. Newly proposed amendments to the End of Life Choice Bill, which is set to have its Second Reading in Parliament, have been strongly rejected by the New Zealand Medical Association, with its chair saying it "goes against the ethics of our profession".

Most New Zealanders don’t support euthanasia for those who refuse treatment. A new nationwide Curia Market Research poll has found that 60% of New Zealanders don’t want a law that would allow an 18-year-old to refuse treatment and instead choose to die by euthanasia. A quarter (24%) would support such a law.

We endorse the views of the World Medical Association and the New Zealand Medical Association that physician assisted suicide an euthanasia are unethical, even if they were made legal. Doctors are not necessary in the regulation of practice of assisted suicide. They are included only to provide a cloak of medical legitimacy.

By Janet McIntyre. TVNZ's Sunday showed this trailer on Sunday 19 May, about how life in a wheelchair drove Claire Freeman to try to end her life, but Claire's now fighting to save other people's lives. "I know of people who will die because of this Bill." The full story will be aired on TVNZ's Sunday programme at 7:30pm on TVNZ One on Sunday 26th May 2019.

Euthanasia-Free NZ. A new nationwide Curia Market Research poll shows the gap between supporters and opponents of euthanasia is narrowing, and that many people withdraw their support when asked to consider some of the details involved in the End of Life Choice Bill, says Euthanasia-Free NZ executive officer Renée Joubert.

By Kim Knight. Euthanasia, says MacLeod, is "predominantly a white middle-class push. "There's no push in India for euthanasia, no push in Thailand or Japan. They think we're mad. They look after the people who are most vulnerable. "If we're serious about caring for New Zealanders then we need to make sure that everybody has access to palliative care.”

By Eruera Rerekura. A Māori opponent of the End of Life Choice Bill says the proposed legislation goes against tikanga Māori and the Treaty of Waitangi. Ngapuhi woman Claire Freeman was amongst those who presented her views to parliament this week. The bill was due for its second reading but has been delayed until later this month (likely Wednesday 22 May 2019).

By Grant Illingworth QC. Opening the door to assisted suicide, without an absolute assurance that mistakes will never be made, would egregiously breach the fundamental obligations of the government. No-one can give such assurance: it is certainly not provided by the bill currently before the House.

By Lucy Bennett: People with disabilities and terminal illnesses spent the afternoon at Parliament today in a last-ditch bid to convince MPs to vote against the End of Life Choice Bill. The controversial Bill, in the name of Act leader David Seymour, is due to have its second reading soon. It passed its first reading 76 votes to 44, by conscience vote.

By Claire Freeman. The End of Life Choice Bill comes with a dark side that we cannot ignore, writes Claire Freeman. “For most of my life I've been pro assisted suicide. It was about choice, dignity, and compassion. But it's not a choice for us when we aren't treated equally, in society or within the healthcare system. It isn't a choice when we feel there are no other options.”

Care Alliance: The ‘Doctors Say No’ Open Letter opposing euthanasia has received its 1,000th signature. Organiser Dr Sinead Donnelly, a Wellington-based Palliative Medicine specialist, says she is humbled by the response. “We started with just a very simple one-page website and it has snowballed through word of mouth and social media.”

Watch the full-length Health Central ChalkTalks panel debate on the End of Life Choice Bill from the ticketed and sold-out event on Wednesday 3 April 2019. Panelists included Former Prime Minister Sir Bill English, Dr Leonie Herx, Claire Freeman, David Seymour, Kerri Nuku of NZNO, and euthanasia advocate Dr Jack Havill.

Morning Report: An open letter calling for greater scrutiny to tidy up unacceptable loopholes in the End of Life Choice Bill has been signed by 75 lawyers and academics. Grant Illingworth QC, told Morning Report he was concerned by a loophole in the bill that could mean 16-year-olds could apply for assisted dying without their parents' knowledge.

By Emma Hatton. Dion Howard, a therapist who specialises in youth suicide is concerned not enough is known about how assisted dying may affect vulnerable youth. He said some coverage of the Bill had glorified assisted dying, "I've had instances of young people quoting methods on how to take your own life, which became a part of our risk assessments of their situations."

Simon Shepherd: David Seymour debated his controversial End of Life Choice Bill with Peter Thirkell on Newshub Nation. Thirkell says, “There’s a huge amount of expert evidence and evidence from the public saying please don’t do this. It puts vulnerable people at risk, it disrupts the doctor/patient relationship.”