New Zealanders to vote in referendum on legalising euthanasia

FILE PHOTO: A pedestrian walks past the New Zealand parliament building known as the Beehive in central Wellington, New Zealand, July 3, 2017. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - New Zealand lawmakers passed a bill on Wednesday that would legalise euthanasia, paving the way for the public to vote on the issue in a referendum next year.

The bill, which enables terminally ill people to request a medically assisted death, was passed 69-51 in parliament, after several amendments and years of heated debate.