Diary of a House: Haere Mai- Welcome to Assisted Dying

The somewhat incongruous heading on the Ministry of Health website sign posts our new law. Haere mai, welcome to death. This Maori greeting contains connotations of cordiality and I'm struck by the incongruous appropriation of reo to the Ministry of Health website. A year ago, in our last election, 65.1 % of us voted yes to euthanasia in an attached referendum. The bill becomes law this week on Sunday, November 7th.

Haere Mai | Welcome to the Assisted Dying Service

Assisted dying involves a person who is experiencing unbearable suffering from a terminal illness taking or being given medication to end their life. There are strict eligibility criteria to have an assisted death. Not everyone with a terminal illness will be eligible. New Zealanders aged 18 or over who have a terminal illness that is likely to end their life within six months may be able to access assisted dying.

Meanwhile, back at 22 College Ave, we are getting to the end of scabies. I take a bath in Epsom salts to redress the permethrin smothering. The end of another long week, I'm looking after myself: red wine, candle, hot soak. I attempt to tidy up the garage...I have to make a start. A party, more elderflower collection, this time in the red zone with Melanie, and the weekend has gone.

At school the highlight of the year for seniors, their prizegiving, is a mixture of live and streamed. Students and teachers only. I'm in the J block with Year 13's who are having a great time while they wait their turn....all dressed up with plenty of space, packaged/Covid friendly snacks and energy to burn. It's freer and more fun than normal. As the ceremony proceeds, each year group files in and out of the school hall with parents watching at home. We go in for the finale, each student presented with a finishing certificate and the announcement of the dux. There's hooting and hollering and good cheer. The Papanui way..we don't need the stuffy town hall or capes and gowns.

I'm at The Piano on Wednesday for the Word Festival, Tiny Curiousities session: food eaten by starving explorers, Gavin Bishop's research on his Maori great grandmother, the naked pie man of Palmerston North. It's eclectic and fascinating. As an audience we're spaced; no breathing on each other possible. Funny how one function can be so different to another under the same Covid rules. Last night, 300 of us in the same small space, sharing the same air and the same germs, tonight, less than 100 in a bigger space, more spread.

And Covid?

4th Nov -There were 26,999 first and second vaccine doses administered yesterday, made up of 6,659 first doses and 20,340 second doses. To date, 89% of New Zealanders have had their first dose and 77% are fully vaccinated.

There are 64 cases in hospital.

There are 139 new community cases of COVID-19:

136 in Auckland
2 in Waikato
1 in Northland

8th Nov- There were 14,280 first and second COVID-19 vaccine doses administered yesterday, made up of 3,272 first doses and 11,008 second doses. To date, 89% of eligible New Zealanders aged 12 and over have had their first dose and 78% are fully vaccinated.

There are 190 community cases in the community today:

182 in Auckland
7 in Waikato
1 in Northland

The rolling 7-day average for community cases is 148.

11th Nov- There are 185 community cases in the community today:

152 in Auckland
25 in Waikato
8 in Northland

The rolling 7-day average for community cases is 161.

I remember Lionel's funeral on 11/11. It started at 11am. One year gone already. RIP. I think more kindly of him as the days pass. The opportunity for reflection on how much his life was affected by active service during World War Two. I can forgive him a lot. I wish it had been easier for him with his sense of humour and fun. Thus easier for us, especially our mum. Nobody gets their time back.