The End of Life Choice Bill legalising euthanasia in certain circumstances is going through its final parliamentary push.
MPs will vote Wednesday night on whether to send the decision to a referendum for the public to ultimately decide or whether to scrap it entirely.
It's taken years to get to this critical point, and emotions were running high as anti-euthanasia protesters took to Parliament to try and stop the Bill from passing.
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"It's unethical," one protester shouted, while another described it as the "death penalty".
Anti-euthanasia advocate Vick Walsh said she has "real fears that safeguards are not in place and that I can't be protected against pressures".
Inside Parliament, the public gallery was full and vocal.
Philip Patston has been fighting for euthanasia to be legalised for five years.
"It's quite a moment in history," he told Newshub. "If it doesn't pass, I'll be really disappointed."
There is a lot riding on the vote, especially for the Bill's sponsor, ACT leader David Seymour, and its most vociferous opponent, National MP Maggie Barry.
"Our motto is to stay paranoid, so we will be staying paranoid until we get every single vote counted," Seymour told Newshub.
Barry said anti-euthanasia advocates are "worried, fearful and scared... this is not just posturing for political grandstanding; this is about people's lives and deaths".
This is the fourth attempt in 24 years to get euthanasia through Parliament. The current Bill's first reading passed 76 in favour with 44 against, and the second reading passed 70 for and 50 against.
Seymour said he "remains quietly confident, just not boldly confident" the Bill will pass.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she thinks it will pass.
The Bill legalises euthanasia for those who are terminally ill with six months to live. It must be signed off by two doctors.
If it passes, it will go to a referendum at the next year's election.
"If it comes down to it we will fight this through to the referendum," Barry said, reflecting the speeches of other MPs who oppose it.
National MP Simeon Brown told Parliament: "Our elderly and our sick we put at risk of being abused, manipulated."
Brown's National Party colleague Dr Shane Reti said his "Māori heart says no".
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said he supported the Bill, telling Parliament: "It is what we should allow for those who do want it."
Seymour echoed Robertson's sentiment, saying: "If my time comes and I'm not doing well, I want choice."
But first, there's another choice to be made.
Newshub.
