Matthew Jansen, Secretary of the Care Alliance, said the submissions reflect the depth and breadth of public attitudes about euthanasia.

The Health Select Committee investigation began in response to a petition presented to Parliament in June 2015.

"Quite simply, the Voluntary Euthanasia Society were able to get 8,975 signatures on a petition, but could muster less than half that number in actual submissions," said Jansen.

"By contrast, 16,411 people took the opportunity to say no to euthanasia."

Opposition to euthanasia was dominant across all submission lengths. For example, of the submissions longer than one page, 1,510 submissions opposed euthanasia while 523 supported its legalisation.

"We became aware last year that pro-euthanasia advocates were spreading a message that opposing submissions did not meet their standards for length, uniqueness or the use of religious arguments."

"We thought that was disrespectful to the thousands of New Zealanders who took the time and effort to share their views with Parliament, for and against. So we set to work to find out the facts."

"Care Alliance volunteers read every submission to record views on legalising euthanasia, the length of the submission, and whether or not religious arguments were used by the submitter."

"This work was completed in April, and a random sample from the full analysis was checked by an independent research company."

It concluded that "we can say with at least 95% confidence that the overall classification percentages are accurate within no more than 0.4% variation."

Jansen added that "While the Care Alliance never argues this issue from a faith perspective, we respect the right of any New Zealander to do so, for or against, if they wish."

"That is a real and existing right protected by the Bill of Rights Act."

"In the event, more than 82 percent of submissions opposed to euthanasia contained no reference to religious arguments."

"Jansen said that many of the submissions, for and against, contained deeply moving personal stories regarding illness, dying and suicide."

"The Select Committee has been provided with incredible testimony. We trust that they will hear that there is much more that needs to be done to improve mental health, disability and end of life services in New Zealand, but that the overwhelming majority of submitters say that euthanasia is not a solution."

Source

carealliance.org.nz

National MP Simon O'Connor is chair of the Health Select Committee, which is considering the issue in response to a petition by former MP Maryan Street and others.

Mr O'Connor once studied for the priesthood with the Society of Mary.

He has made his opposition to legalisation of assisted suicide known.

The New Zealand Herald reported that ACT MP David Seymour is calling for Mr O'Connor to step down as inquiry chairman, because he believes the Tamaki MP is too partisan on the issue.

Last year, Mr Seymour launched a private members bill that would legalise voluntary euthanasia.

Labour and Green MPs backed Mr O'Connor's fairness and impartiality as chair.

Mr O'Connor rejected calls to step aside and said the outcome of the inquiry was not a foregone conclusion.

"I can hold a personal view but also run a committee in a way that is . . . professional," he said.

In an interview last year with NZ Catholic, Mr O'Connor defended his chairing the inquiry.

"As chair of the committee, my role is to ensure that a fair and open process is followed. This is something I can and am rightly doing.

"In fact, I think it is very clear from the way the investigation has been structured, the time given to make submissions, the courtesy extended to the petitioners and others, are all indications that the committee is being chaired in a fair and appropriate way.

"Having said that, I would like to stress that being an impartial chair does not necessitate putting aside one's own views.

"I think any inquiry is bound to be of a better standard when its members have a keen interest in the subject.

"Everyone is going to get a chance to be heard through this inquiry.

"I will agree with some people and disagree with others, but that's the nature of democracy. There will be a big conversation and we will try to understand the issue better."

There has also been criticism of the terms of reference of the inquiry, in that the topic under consideration is too broad, rather than the focus being on assisted dying alone.

Mr O'Connor said the committee members unanimously agreed on the terms of reference, after a robust debate.

Sources

• New Zealand Herald
• Parliament.govt.nz
• Stuff.co.nz
• Parliament.govt.nz
• NZ Catholic
• Image: Stuff.co.nz