Dr Nitschke, the founder of pro-euthanasia group Exit International, is based in Australia and travels throughout there and New Zealand giving lectures, holding workshops and offering advice to people interested in pursuing a ‘‘peaceful death''.
He co-authored The Peaceful Pill Handbook, which is banned in Australia and was banned in New Zealand until it was amended at the request of the chief sensor and reclassified as R18.
Often referred to as ‘‘Dr Death'', Dr Nitschke has conducted workshops in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Nelson but this is his first appearance in Dunedin.
Exit International Dunedin chapter leader Paula Westoby is charged with the task of promoting Dr Nitschke's Dunedin workshop.
As well as being an Exit International member, the 78-year-old former nurse is a member of the Voluntary Euthanasia Society (VES) and a former member of Dignity New Zealand.
She is confident there are enough genuinely interested people to warrant a workshop in Dunedin.
‘‘There has never been a talk like this in Dunedin before, because there has never been enough known interest,'' Mrs Westoby said.
‘‘But I know there are people here that need advice and will come to this workshop - I've spoken to them.
‘‘I'm already getting calls from people saying they are too old and sick and they don't have time to wait around until the laws change.''
A similar talk, organised to take place last March at the University of Otago by euthanasia campaigner Lesley Martin on behalf of Dignity New Zealand, was cancelled by the university. The Star's requests for comment from university vice-chancellor Professor David Skegg in regards to this and Dr Nitschke's Dunedin appearance were unanswered.
Last March, Prof Skegg told The Star: ‘‘The University of Otago encourages academic debate on ethical matters such as euthanasia, but it is not obliged to provide a base for advocacy groups wishing to promote behaviour that is illegal in this country''.
Dr Nitschke's workshop is scheduled for Sunday, July 6, at the Kingsgate Hotel. Kingsgate Hotel management declined to comment when contacted by The Star.
When contacted for comment, Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin said he was unaware a euthanasia workshop was planned for Dunedin and was unwilling to comment on the issue.
Dunedin City Council communications co-ordinator Rodney Bryant said the issue wasn't a matter for the council to comment on.
When contacted by The Star, the Health and Disability Ethics Committee at the Dunedin office of the Ministry of Health declined to comment, saying the subject was not in their ‘‘spectrum of operations''.
The University of Otago Bioethics Committee also did not respond to The Star's request for comment.
Amnesty International New Zealand Activism Support Manager Margaret Taylor said Amnesty International took no position on voluntary euthanasia and neither did international law.
‘‘However, where debates such as these are held, we suggest that it is useful to undertake them within a human rights context,'' Mrs Taylor said.
Spokesman for the pro-life group Right To Life (RTL), Ken Orr, of Christchurch, said his organisation was strongly opposed to Dr Nitschke's promotion of suicide and euthanasia.
‘‘Euthanasia is about doctors being permitted to kill their patients or assist in their suicide. It is a culture of death which is opposed to a culture of life,'' Mr Orr said.
‘‘The purpose of his workshops is to explain the law on suicide, give information about travelling to Switzerland for assisted suicide and travelling to Mexico to purchase Nembutal - a Class C drug which is illegal to import, bring into the country or possess.''
Mr Orr said Dr Nitschke was a threat to the elderly and vulnerable in our community including disturbed and depressed teenagers.
‘‘It should be noted that Nitschke does not seek suicide only for the elderly and those with a terminal illness but for any person of any age who believes that life is not worth living,'' Mr Orr said.
Attempts by The Star to contact Dr Nitschke were unsuccessful.
Mrs Westoby said Dr Nitschke's session would begin with a free hourlong talk.
The talk would be followed by the opportunity to become an Exit International member for $50 and remain for a twohour workshop.
Exit International took a more ‘‘hands-on'' approach to euthanasia than VES or Dignity New Zealand, she said.
‘‘This is an important topic and it is important that we have the right to choose how we want to die,'' Mrs Westoby said.
‘‘I'm thankful that at my age I still have endless amounts of energy and I'm able to campaign for the things I feel passionate about.
‘‘But it will all end some day and it should end on my terms.''
