Organisation: Office of the Clerk of the House of Representatives

Friday 27 July 2018

Justice Committee hearings continue across the country on End of Life Choice Bill

The Justice Committee is continuing its journey around New Zealand to hear from people on the End of Life Choice Bill. Due to the unprecedented interest in this important and complex matter, the Justice Committee has formed four sub-committees to hear from all people who asked to be heard.

The Member’s Bill seeks to establish a legal process by which people with a terminal illness or a grievous and irremediable medical condition could have the option of requesting assisted dying if they meet the requirements set out in bill.

The committee received more than 35,000 written submission on the bill, approximately 10 percent of people have indicated they also want to speak to the committee.

Subcommittees have recently heard from people in Auckland, New Plymouth, Napier, Nelson, Christchurch, Tauranga, and Wellington. Subcommittees will be heading to Rotorua and Auckland next week, with a number of other hearings planned as per the attached schedule.

Committee staff will be in touch with individuals and regional organisations who made submissions and asked to be heard, to assist them with times and venues. You are welcome to contact the team at Justice.EndOfLife@parliament.govt.nz.

The list of hearings is on the Parliament website and specific times and venues will be added as they are scheduled. The schedule will also be updated on the committee’s Facebook page.

Hearings are open to the public and media.

Committee staff are also publishing submissions. These will appear on the Justice Committee’s page as they are processed.

• Please note the figures in the attached graphic are preliminary. 3600 is the approximate total; which includes overseas submitters and others.

End of Life Choice Bill indicative hearing schedule

Updated at 25 July 2018

Location Date
Auckland Friday 29 June 2018
Nelson Monday 2 July 2018
Auckland Monday 9 July 2018
New Plymouth Tuesday 17 July 2018
Napier Thursday 19 July 2018
Auckland Friday 20 July 2018
Tauranga Monday 23 July 2018
Wellington Monday 23 July 2018
Auckland Friday 27 July 2018
Rotorua Monday 30 July 2018
Wellington Monday 30 July 2018
Auckland Monday 30 July 2018
Auckland Friday 3 August 2018
Whangarei Monday 6 August 2018
Invercargill Monday 6 August 2018
Auckland Monday 6 August 2018
Auckland Friday 10 August 2018
Hamilton Monday 13 August 2018
Wellington Monday 13 August 2018
Palmerston North Thursday 23 August 2018
Whanganui Tuesday 28 August 2018
Greymouth Friday 31 August 2018
Christchurch Monday 3 September 2018
Dunedin Friday 21 September 2018

Please note that while the committee tries its best to keep to the schedule, changes may occur at short notice due to urgent parliamentary commitments. The secretariat is here to help you have your say and can be contacted at Justice.EndofLife@parliament,govt.nz.

Further meetings may be added to the schedule.

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