72% of Maori say they'll vote to enact end of life choice law

A special survey of Maori commissioned by the television programme The Hui finds 72% will vote for the end of Life Choice Act coming into force.

28% said they would vote against the Act.

Respondents were told the Act makes it legal for people to request assisted dying, or euthanasia, from doctors, and legal for health practitioners to help people die under certain conditions.

An option to ask for assisted dying would mainly be open to those who have been diagnosed as terminally ill and with less than six months left to live.

It won't come into force unless a majority vote "Yes" in this year's binding referendum.

Other isues relating to end of life choice were also asked. Results are:

If the law comes into force are you concerned there will be a disproportionate number of Māori who will choose to end their life as a result of the inequality of care?

37% overall said that they were concerned

61% said that they were not concerned:

1% gave no answer

Do you believe the End of Life Choice Act is incompatible with tikanga Māori?

58% did not believe it was incompatible with tikanga Māori. 

40% said they believed it was incompatible.

2% did not give an answer.

Do you believe that for the terminally ill choosing to die is an act of tino rangatiratanga/self-determination?

55% overall felt it was an act of tino rangatiratanga for the terminally ill.

43% felt that it was not an act of tino rangatiratanga for the terminally ill.

3% did not give an answer

Should sufferers of serious long-term disabilities or illness also have the right to medical assistance to die?

70% of respondents believe that sufferers of long-term disabilities or illness should also have the right to medical assistance to die.

28% don’t believe they have the right to medical assistance to die.

2% did not give an answer

Horizon Research surveyed 543 Māori aged 18+ natiowide. the respodent group represented the adult Maori population at the 2018 census. At a 95% confidence level the margin of error on the overall result is ±4.3%

The Hui broadcast and discussed the results on Sunday March 8, 2020.