The End of Life Choice Bill has received "overwhelming positive" support from Bay people, according to the Act party leader.
David Seymour visited Tauranga yesterdayfor the first time since his voluntary euthanasia bill was drawn from the ballot on June 10.
"Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive," Mr Seymour said. "I had about two weeks of people coming up to me and emailing me saying this is fantastic."
The bill would give people with a terminal illness or a "grievous and irremediable medical condition" the option of requesting assisted dying.
Mr Seymour said 70 to 80 per cent of people were in favour of a law change.
The bill would come up for its first reading before the September 23 election. If the bill got through the first reading it would go to select committee and would open for public submissions, which would take six months.
There were 42 MPs confirmed in favour of the bill and 27 confirmed against, Mr Seymour said. He hoped to gain the 61-plus votes for the bill to pass.
Mr Seymour said people who were heavily opposed to the bill were those who believed it would lead to exploitation of people who did not have the choice, and those who believed it was wrong to effectively "play God".
But Mr Seymour said there were "safeguards" which must be followed to ensure the person was capable of understanding the consequences of their decision.
"That is fine," he said. "They have the right to never ask for an assisted death, but what they do not have the right to is to take away other people's choice.
"I think a modern democratic society should give people choice instead of suffering.
"Once you start looking at the real choices people have I do not think that having a safe and legal option to make the choice for yourself is such a bad thing."
Mr Seymour admired East Coast MP Anne Tolley who said she would be guided by her constituents and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges who said he was unlikely to support the bill but acknowledged the possibility of discussing issues.
He was "disappointed" with Bay of Plenty electorate MP Todd Muller's strong stance against the bill. In a media statement, Mr Muller said the renewed debate was going to open up "profound, ethical" issues.
"There will be a broad spectrum of opinions right across society and this needs to be approached in a respectful way.
"From my perspective, our palliative care services do an amazing job supporting those with life-limiting illnesses with nothing but care and compassion," he
said.
Former MP Maryan Street submitted a similar euthanasia bill to the private members ballot in July 2012, but it was not drawn, said Mr Seymour.
Chairman of the Bay of Plenty End-of-Life Choice branch Jonathan Spink said the society supported Mr Seymour's bill.
Mr Spink said the society's mission was to change the law to entitle adults with a terminal illness or an irreversible condition that makes their life unbearable to have the right to choose how and when to die, with medical assistance.
He said their vision was to live in a society in which those with a terminal illness or irreversible condition could choose when to die.
"A society in which death is treated with the same respect and openness as birth. A society in which there is understanding and compassion for people to make decisions on end of life choices."
He said the vision included that the rational expression of choices on the subjects of how and when to die received general respect and could be enshrined in law.
"A law that gives the right to chose a death that reflects on individual's values and beliefs."
Seymour's End of Life Choice Bill
■ Drawn from the ballot on June 10.
■ Comes up for its first reading before the September 23 election.
■ If the bill gets through the first reading it then goes to select committee and opens for public submissions which will take six months.
■ The bill then needs to survive three more stages in Parliament.