Referendum results live: NZ votes yes on euthanasia, no on cannabis legalisation

KEY POINTS:

• The results are in: It's YES to euthanasia, NO to legalising cannabis, preliminary numbers show.
• Preliminary results were released at 2pm today; final results are released next Friday, November 6.
• The final results will include about 480,000 special votes.
• It will be about a year before terminal patients can request assisted dying.

New Zealanders have voted yes on euthanasia, no on cannabis legalisation, preliminary numbers show.

With an estimated 17 per cent of votes still to be counted, 65.2 per cent voted in support of the End of Life Choice Act, while 53.1 per cent voted against the Cannabis Legalisation and Control Bill.

Supporters of cannabis reform were looking for at least a close margin in the preliminary referendum results, which were released at 2pm.

The Electoral Commission is releasing the preliminary results of the euthanasia and cannabis referendums at 2pm today. Final results will be released on November 6.

Recent polls had the "no" vote on legalising cannabis substantially ahead of the "yes" vote.

After the announcement, Justice Minister Andrew Little said the chances of special votes flipping the cannabis referendum result were very remote.

"The probability of that is so low to be virtually non-existent."

The Electoral Commission is releasing the preliminary results of the euthanasia and cannabis referendums at 2pm today. Final results will be released on November 6.

Based on 480,000 special votes, 32 per cent "no" and 68 per cent "yes" would change the result of the cannabis referendum.

ACT leader David Seymour thanked MPs for supporting the End of Life Choice Bill through Parliament.

He also thanked Dame Jenny Gibbs for "giving me the courage as a young MP to pursue this cause", Brooke van Velden for her work in rallying support in Parliament for the bill, and National MP Chris Bishop.

He said New Zealand would be "a kinder, more compassionate, more humane society - what a great day to be a Kiwi".

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Andrew Little said voters had spoken and were "uncomfortable" with legalisation of cannabis.

Justice Minister Andrew Little speaks to the media after the referendum announcements. Photo / Mark Tantrum

The drug law changes last year had led to a level of decriminalisation, he added.

"In the end, people weren't ready to make that step."

'Tide of misinformation'

Speaking in Auckland after the result, Green MP Chloe Swarbrick said it seemed to show a win for the "no" vote - though it was still possible that the result could flip.

She said she was proud of the "yes" campaign which "always spoke to the facts" rather than the "tide of misinformation" from the other side.

The Misuse of Drugs Act was no longer fit for purpose, and Swarbrick said she would continue to push for "mature, responsible and respectful drug law reform".

Asked if Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern should have told the public how she was voting before polling day, she said she was proud to have stuck her own neck out. "I'm in the Greens because I have the courage of my convictions."

Immediately after the result, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister confirmed she voted yes in both referendums and would progress any legislation in line with the will of the people following the release of the final results next week.

Earlier, the Drug Foundation said the gap between the "yes" and the "no" votes in the cannabis referendum would close with the special votes.

"But the jury is still out on whether it can close entirely."

Foundation chair Tuari Potiki called for drug use to be decriminalised because even the "no" camp wanted drug use to be treated as a health issue.

"Although a majority of New Zealanders did not vote for the proposed model of legalisation, the debate has shown a clear public desire for legal change in some form."

The foundation also called for greater access to medicinal cannabis, and for an end to criminal penalties for those who grow small quantities of cannabis at home for personal use.

Former prime minister Helen Clark, who supported a "yes" vote on cannabis, told the Herald before the results were released that legalising cannabis could make a positive difference in thousands of people's lives.

"The jury is out on whether New Zealand will move with the times, recognise the reality of widespread cannabis availability and use and regulate around that, or whether it will continue to look the other way and let the harmful impacts of prohibition continue to be felt."

Bob McCoskrie of the Say Nope to Dope campaign told media the group was "pretty stoked" with the result on cannabis legalisation.

He said the campaign would need to wait until full results were revealed, but they were happy with the preliminary outcome.

He also credited the "yes" campaign for encouraging public debate.

"It's good news for young people they are not going to be included in a social experiment, we can leave that to the Americans and Canadians," a campaign spokesman said.

"This is the right result, we don't expect young people to applaud us, but we have used our freedom for this."

The group commended the Prime Minister for not stating her position ahead of the referendum, and "leaving it to the people".

'She would be very humbled'

David Seymour hosted an event at Parliament from 1pm that heard from Shirley Seales and, via Skype from New York, Matt Vickers - the mother and widowed husband of euthanasia campaigner Lecretia Seales.

Shirley Seales gave an emotional speech acknowledging her daughter's legacy.

"I'm sure [Lecretia] would never have imagined that she would still be acknowledged for the part she has played. She would be very humbled and I know she would want others acknowledged."

She paid tribute to Matt Vickers, several lawyers who advocated for the cause, and MPs including Seymour, Maryan Street and Michael Laws.

She said it had been "particularly upsetting to hear lies about Lecretia throughout the campaign".

David Seymour and Chris Bishop at the referendum announcement in Wellington. Photo / Mark Tantrum

"I have been tempted to respond, but my greatest reward will be a majority vote. We are extremely proud of Lecretia, and I'm sure she is smiling down on us all."

Today's result marks the end of the five-year journey for Seymour since he first put the End of Life Choice Bill in the ballot.

The referendum is binding and the majority "yes" vote will see it become law, with terminal patients able to request assisted dying from November 6 next year.

Supporters of the End of Life Choice bill celebrate after the announcement. Photo / Mark Tantrum

The Electoral Commission said the two-week wait for the preliminary referendum results was down to prioritising the votes for the general election, for which preliminary results were released within hours of polling booths closing.

"We're guided by the Referendums Framework Act which made it clear that the priority was to get the official count of election results under way first, so that the referendum count did not delay the final general election results," a commission spokeswoman said.