The New Zealand Herald reports a 2015 study showed two-thirds of the NZ population support medically-assisted dying:

Faye Clark. Photo / Supplied

Last year, 15,270 participants in the NZAVS were asked: "Suppose a person has a painful incurable disease. Do you think that doctors should be allowed by law to end the patient's life if the patient requests it?"

On a scale ranging from 1 (definitely no) to 7 (definitely yes), roughly two thirds were in favour, and mostly at the "definitely" end of the spectrum.

"The mean response to the question was 5.6 out of 7 - this indicates that most New Zealanders were, on average, supportive of euthanasia," said Sonali Dutt, who conducted the study as part of her summer research scholarship.

About 12.3 per cent were opposed.

The lowest rates of support were among those aged 80 to 84, while the highest levels came from young people aged 18 to 19.

"In the last few years, between 60 and 90 per cent of New Zealanders have been in favour of a change," said Hamilton voluntary euthanasia advocate Faye Clark, who has been asking for the right to end her own life since she was diagnosed with myeloma, an incurable bone marrow cancer, seven years ago.

"I think our politicians need to ... reflect the wishes of the electorate."