End of Life Choice Act 2019
The End of Life Choice Act 2019 is an Act of Parliament in New Zealand that gives people with a terminal illness the option of receiving assisted suicide or euthanasia. The act came into force on 7 November 2021, twelve months after the 2020 euthanasia referendum was declared in favour of the legislation.
End of Life Choice Act 2019 | |
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New Zealand Parliament | |
Citation | 2019 No 67 |
Territorial extent | New Zealand |
Passed by | House of Representatives |
Passed | 13 November 2019 |
Royal assent | 16 November 2019 |
Commenced | 7 November 2021 |
Legislative history | |
Bill title | End of Life Choice Bill |
Bill citation | 269-3 |
Introduced by | David Seymour |
Introduced | 8 June 2017 |
Committee responsible | Justice Committee |
First reading | 13 December 2017 |
Voting summary |
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Second reading | 26 June 2019 |
Voting summary |
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Third reading | 13 November 2019 |
Voting summary |
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Status: Current legislation |
Political progress towards the act began in 2015, when ACT Party MP David Seymour entered it into the member's bill ballot. The bill passed its first reading in December 2017, its second reading in June 2019, and its third reading in November 2019, with 69 votes in favour and 51 opposed. Changes introduced by New Zealand First before the third reading required that the bill would go to referendum to be introduced into law. A binding referendum was held in conjunction with the 2020 general election on whether the act should come into force, with a majority of voters (65%) in favour.