National MP Maggie Barry at the End of Life Choice Bill debate in the Central Baptist Church in Whanganui. Photo / Stuart Munro
National MP Maggie Barry at the End of Life Choice Bill debate in the Central Baptist Church in Whanganui. Photo / Stuart Munro
Parliament will come to Whanganui in August following unprecedented interest in David Seymour's assisted dying bill.
The parliamentary justice committee will undertake a 25-date tour to hear from the people of New Zealand on the ACT Party leader's controversial bill.
With the debate still a hot topic in Whanganui, Tuesday,August 28, has been pencilled in for the committee to be in town to hear from concerned locals.
Seymour's End of Life Choice bill received more than 35,000 public submissions — a level of interest it describes as "unprecedentd" — with 10 per cent of those submitters wishing to be heard in person.
"Public interest is naturally high ... and we have decided to travel to different parts of New Zealand to hear from people," said committee chairman Raymond Huo, a Labour Party list MP.
The arguments about legislation to allow a person to choose to end their own life have raged on the Chronicle's letters page and at the public meeting at Whanganui's Central Baptist Church in May when 300 people attended.
Speaking at that May meeting — along with Seymour — was National MP Maggie Barry and, as justice committee deputy chairwoman, she will be back here in August for the hearing.
"The proposed amendments this bill seeks to make to the Crimes Act to allow euthanasia and assisted suicide are such fundamental changes to our law that a record number of New Zealanders have been motivated to write to Parliament and asked to be heard," she said this weekend.
"In an effort to be as transparent, inclusive, and accessible as possible, we invite the public to join us, as well as all MPs, to ensure they are aware of the issues before they exercise their conscience vote early next year."
Committee staff will be in touch with individuals and organisations to assist them with times and the venue for the hearing — as yet undecided.
The hearings — open to the public and media — will be advertised on the Parliament website and will also be livestreamed to the committee's Facebook page.
