Change ahead for more liberal NZ

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

Opinion

Two of the biggest conscience issues of all for politicians, abortion and euthanasia, will be voted on in the near future. Our Parliament has also shown backing for the legalisation of medicinal cannabis and MPs are working out details, while a referendum on legalisation of the drug for personal use will come before all New Zealanders probably later next year.

Indications are that the country will see significant liberalising reforms in all three areas.

In the lead-up to the election last year Jacinda Ardern pledged that she would have abortion moved out of the Crimes Act, where it has been since 1977. The Law Commission released its report on abortion law reform last week, recommending three options for its treatment as a health issue only.

Newshub has asked all 121 MPs which way they will vote and while a lot haven’t decided, a big majority who have will vote for reform: 54 yes (45 percent), 6 no (5 percent), 21 no reply (17 percent) and 40 undecided/won’t say (33 percent).

Next March the End of Life Choice Bill is due back from select committee after its consideration of thousands of submissions.

A Newshub Reid Research poll earlier this year found that 71 percent of New Zealanders support the legalisation of medically assisted dying for adults suffering a terminal illness, with 19.5 percent against it and 9.5 percent unsure.

While these matters will be voted on by our MPs, we will all get a vote on whether to legalise marijuana. Ardern won’t commit to a law change if the public says yes in the non-binding referendum, but there will be pressure to do so.

Her support partners both want the will of the people followed on this, and polls commissioned by the NZ Drug Foundation over the past three years show growing public backing for liberalisation; support for personal possession is now 67 percent, for pain relief 87 percent and terminal pain relief 89 percent.

There is a lot less support for cannabis being sold as a retail product from stores; 38 percent, up from 34 percent last year. While the question hasn’t been decided, asked about a referendum “seeking to legalise the sale of cannabis” the poll result was split at 49 percent for and 47 percent against.