Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Euthanasia backed in poll

By Mike Dinsdale
Northern Advocate·
9 Oct, 2013 09:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Whangarei MP Phil Heatley

Whangarei MP Phil Heatley

More than 60 per cent of Whangarei residents want euthanasia legalised in some form while 85 per cent want changes to cannabis laws, a survey has found.

The research, carried out by Whangarei MP Phil Heatley, has surprised the National party MP, who traditionally votes along conservative lines and said the results will have him considering his stance on euthanasia.

But Bob McCoskrie, national director of conservative lobby group Family First, said the survey results on cannabis were at odds with national polls and he would oppose any attempt to decriminalise assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Mr Heatley has just released the outcome of his electorate survey where he sent questions to 7000 households in the electorate covering issues such as euthanasia, cannabis legislation, barriers stopping the district progressing, plans for unitary authorities and the biggest problems in the area.

He received 977 responses.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On euthanasia 46 per cent wanted it legalised for medical purposes only and 20 per cent wanted it legalised, with 20 per cent saying it should remain illegal and 9 per cent undecided. With cannabis, 62 per cent thought it should be legal, 23 per cent wanted it legalised for medical purposes only and 15 per cent wanted it to remain illegal.

Mr Heatley said the response to euthanasia took him by surprise and he would have to think about his stance on the issue.

"That's a lot (of people supporting euthanasia) and maybe I shouldn't be as conservative on this issue and that's worth looking at," he said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I have never supported it, but some people have very strong feelings about it and I acknowledge that."

He said his survey respondents were traditionally more conservative so the response to legalising cannabis was a big surprise, but he was firm on opposing any liberalisation of drug laws.

"I'm pretty head strong on this particular issue. It makes no sense to suggest to our kids that it's okay to smoke cannabis.

"Just because alcohol and tobacco are legal under controlled circumstances, it's no reason to promote another drug."

Discover more

Anguish mounts over deaths

27 Oct 10:30 PM

Majority support choice to end life

03 Nov 06:31 PM

Mr McCoskrie said legalising euthanasia would place large numbers of vulnerable people at risk. "In particular those who are depressed, elderly, sick, disabled, those experiencing chronic illness, limited access to good medical care, and those who feel themselves to be under emotional or financial pressure to request early death," he said.

"It would have sent a dangerous message to young people about suicide and the value of life. Maintaining the current laws protects all New Zealanders equally."

Labour MP Maryann Street has withdrawn her private members bill which would attempt to decriminalise assisted suicide or euthanasia.

Meanwhile, Mr McCoskrie said, in the poll of 1000 New Zealanders by Curia Market Research, respondents were asked whether they agreed with the statement "If an adult wishes to use a drug such as marijuana, they should be able to do so legally" only 33 per cent of respondents agreed, with 60 per cent disagreeing and 7 per cent being unsure or refusing to say.

HAVE YOUR SAY:

What do you think about the survey results on euthanasia and/or cannabis? Send your views to reporters@northernadvocate.co.nz

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Northern Advocate

Northern Advocate

'We need cops': Kaikohe's plea amid rising crime rates

Premium
OpinionKevin Page

Kevin Page: Facing fears, finding humour and relief in medical journey

Northern Advocate

'Terribly confusing': FNDC slammed for costly speed limit changes


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Northern Advocate

'We need cops': Kaikohe's plea amid rising crime rates
Northern Advocate

'We need cops': Kaikohe's plea amid rising crime rates

A Kaikohe resident has written an open letter urging action against rising crime.

14 Jul 05:41 PM
Premium
Premium
 Kevin Page: Facing fears, finding humour and relief in medical journey
Kevin Page
OpinionKevin Page

Kevin Page: Facing fears, finding humour and relief in medical journey

14 Jul 05:00 PM
'Terribly confusing': FNDC slammed for costly speed limit changes
Northern Advocate

'Terribly confusing': FNDC slammed for costly speed limit changes

14 Jul 05:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP