New Zealand has voted in a referendum to legalise euthanasia. A concurrent vote to allow the recreational use of marijuana looks set to be rejected.

The vote on assisted suicide has already secured enough “yes” ballots – 65.2% – to become law, meaning New Zealand will become the seventh country in the world to legalise euthanasia. In Ireland, a vote recently moved a Private Member’s Bill that would permit assisted suicide to second stage.

As a result of the New Zealand vote, from November 2021 terminally ill patients deemed likely to have less than six months to live will be able to avail of assisted suicide.

They must be 18 and have the approval of two doctors, newly passed legislation states.

The final results of both referendums will be formally announced on 6 November.