In 2021, euthanasia and assisted suicide became legal in New Zealand under the End of Life Choice Act 2019. The law allows certain people with a terminal illness to ask a doctor to end their life (euthanasia) or assist them to commit suicide (assisted suicide). This is euphemistically called “assisted dying” by governmental agencies and medical personnel.
Many people have questions about what this means, who can apply, and what the law allows. This article explains the key facts in simple, clear language.
What the law allows
The End of Life Choice Act 2019 came into force on 7 November 2021, after being approved by Parliament and confirmed by a national referendum.
It allows adults who meet particular conditions to ask a doctor or nurse practitioner to end their life or assist them in their suicide.
To be eligible, a person must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident
- Have a terminal illness that is likely to cause death within six months
- Be in an advanced state of physical decline that cannot be reversed
- Be experiencing unbearable suffering that they feel cannot be relieved
- Be able to understand and communicate their decision clearly
The law says that being elderly, disabled, or mentally ill alone does not make a person eligible.
How the process works
The person must start the conversation — a doctor cannot suggest assisted dying to a patient.
Two doctors must agree that the person meets all the conditions. If there is any doubt, an independent psychiatrist may be asked to assess the person’s decision-making ability.
If approved, the person can choose:
- When the procedure happens
- Where it takes place (at home, in a hospital, or in a hospice)
- How the medication is given — by the person themselves (assisted suicide) or by a doctor or nurse practitioner (euthanasia)
The person can change their mind at any time, right up to the last moment.
Doctors who object for moral or religious reasons do not have to take part. However, they must tell the person of their position and inform them that they may contact the SCENZ Group (Support and Consultation for End of Life in New Zealand). The SCENZ Group is the national entity that keeps a register of doctors, nurse practitioners, and psychiatrists. However, for the physician who does not wish to participate in any way, this requirement asks them to do so anyway.
The End of Life Choice Act is about legalising the killing of another person, or assisting someone to commit suicide.
Family Life International NZ
Why so many New Zealanders are concerned
Supporters of the law say it gives people “choice” and “control.”
But many others — including those who work in palliative care, ethics, and disability rights — are worried about how this law could affect vulnerable people.
From a pro-life perspective, every human life has value and dignity, even when someone is sick, suffering, or near death. Legalising euthanasia and assisted suicide changes how society views life and death.
Over and above the fundamental problem, which is that the Act is about legalising the killing of another human being or assisting someone to commit suicide, the following points are worth seriously considering.
Here are some common concerns:
1. Pressure on the vulnerable
People who are old, lonely, or feel like a burden may feel pressure — even silent pressure — to end their lives. Some may think their family or caregivers would be better off without them.
2. Risk of mistakes
Doctors can’t always predict how long someone will live. Many people outlive their diagnosis by months or even years. Once a life is ended, that mistake cannot be undone.
3. Decline in palliative care focus
Palliative care helps people live as comfortably and meaningfully as possible until natural death. When euthanasia and assisted suicide become an option, there’s a risk that society invests less in this essential care.
4. Changing attitudes over time
Laws can shift. What begins as a “limited” law can expand over time. Some jurisdictions that have legalised euthanasia and/or assisted suicide for the terminally ill now allow it for people with mental illness or disability.
Many fear New Zealand could move in that same direction, and there are signs that those fears are founded.