New Zealand

New Zealand's law for terminally ill adults came into effect, following a public referendum, in November 2021.

New Zealand’s End of Life Choice Act enables terminally ill, mentally competent adults in their final months of life to request assistance from a medical professional to end their life at a time and place of their choosing.

The Bill passed through the New Zealand Parliament and was ratified by a public referendum in 2020 – 65.2% of voters backed the change.

The Rt Hon Helen Clark, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, backed the ‘Yes’ vote in the referendum. She said:

“The central objective of the End of Life Choice Act is to offer the option of assisted dying to terminally ill New Zealanders who meet the criteria set out in the Act. Under our present laws, they have had to suffer against their wishes. The Act will enable them to determine how, when, and where they die.

“Evidence from overseas shows that similar legislation can enable people to live better as they are dying – whether or not they choose this option – in addition to easing the deaths of those who do and providing protection to the most vulnerable in our society. Having examined this evidence and looked back on my 27.5 years of parliamentary experience, I am confident that enacting this law is the safe, compassionate and right thing to do.”