Former Whangarei woman Jackie Gardner knows a lot about living and dying.
She is a marriage and funeral celebrant, and four years ago nursed her partner through an agonised, prolonged death to cancer.
In the past year, Ms Gardner has survived her own experience with cancer which required surgery, chemo and radiotherapy.
Before her treatment began, Ms Gardner filled out an Advance Directive (AD), a type of will instructing medical staff not to try to prolong her life should she end up unable to make her own end-of-life decisions.
Ms Gardner said advance directives should be mandatory.
While they are legal, she is disappointed they are not ratified in the proposed End of Life Choice (OLC) Bill which passed its first reading, with public submissions due by midnight, February 20.
''It doesn't hasten your end,'' Ms Gardner said of the directives.
''It prevents 'heroic intervention'. It's very strongly safeguarded, there are so many criteria and medical assessments.''
It is defined in the Code of Health and Disability Services Consumers' Rights as a written or oral directive enabling someone to make a choice about a possible future health care procedure.
As with an enduring power of attorney (EPA) it only takes effect if the subject is unable to make or communicate decisions.
Ms Gardner said it is not about handing responsibility for medical care or life support decisions to others, but about owning those choices oneself.
''What I really like about [it] is you have time to think about it, and you make that choice while you are completely compos mentis. You can review, you can change it.
''It's informing your family of what you want while you're still able to make that choice yourself. It's a really comforting thing for yourself and your loved ones.''
By the time her late partner, who was a lawyer, would have benefited from having an advanced directive in place, it was too late.
''No one told us about these advance directives. She did everything legally, putting her affairs in order, yet she was unable to choose not to go through an undignified, very painful, prolonged end.''
As for Ms Gardner's own form of bowel cancer and treatment, it was excruciatingly painful, left her with a physical disability and was a heart-aching reminder of how harsh the ordeal is on carers and loved ones.
She is still in the early stages of recovery.
''I wanted to die at times. I never, ever want to go through that again.
''I am well again, but I have had a wonderful, full life. I want that to be my own and everyone else's memory of me at the end of my life, not an awful death that is terrible for them as well as me to go through.''
Ms Gardner said she hoped people would sign the petitions and submissions being taken to public places in Whangarei by the local end-of-life focus group.