Death machine flown to NZ

By MARTIN JOHNSTON

Euthanasia advocate Dr Philip Nitschke has foiled the "harassment" of Melbourne customs officers and will show a death machine to an Auckland audience today.

Officers went through his bags, computer files and speech notes, but he was carrying none of the tubes and other hardware for the controversial carbon monoxide-generating (COgen) machine.

After having the prototype machine, and drawstring plastic suicide bags, confiscated when he left Australia for the United States in January, the Australian had taken the precaution of separately sending component parts to New Zealand.

Dr Nitschke said at Auckland Airport yesterday: "I will be able to make some of those things between now and when I first start demonstrating this machine because they are very simple devices to make and that's the whole point.

"They have been designed so that individuals can do this themselves."

The machines, which would cost about $100, are designed to allow users to die peacefully with a few deep breaths of lethal carbon monoxide through a face mask.

Dr Nitschke said he would assemble one overnight to show to reporters and 13 members of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society of Auckland at a workshop today that starts his public-speaking tour of New Zealand.

During the trip, sponsored by two voluntary euthanasia societies, he will hold public meetings and workshops in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

He said NZ customs officers caused him no problems, but Australia's had singled him out - "it's targeted and it's harassment" - yet he sensed they supported him.

An Australian Customs Service spokesman denied Dr Nitschke had been detained.

"Dr Nitschke was simply subject to routine outgoing passenger processing."

Australia amended its customs regulations last year to prohibit exportation of devices designed or customised to be used to commit suicide or to assist suicide.

In New Zealand, attempting suicide is not a crime, but helping someone to do it is.

Dr Nitschke said it was an interesting time to be here because assisted-suicide issues had been highlighted by the Death with Dignity Bill, and by Lesley Martin, the Wanganui euthanasia advocate charged with trying to kill her terminally ill mother.

He intended to meet Ms Martin last night.