A series of public debates start tonight to discuss moves to legalise euthanasia, as new figures show a huge majority of people are against the idea.

The justice select committee will report back to parliament on end of life legislation next week and the law's second reading's likely to go ahead next month.

Figures released yesterday showed more than 90 per cent of Kiwis who made submissions on the euthanasia bill want the proposed law change scrapped.

Canadian palliative care expert doctor, Leonie Herx, told Mike Hosking assisted dying has been “rife with problems”.

She said the eligibility criteria has changed expanded since the law was introduced.

"Our statistics have been consistent with international statistics [and show] that it's actually not people who have poorly controlled physical symptoms, it's people who have a fear of loss of control."

"They are worried about dying and being a burden on others."

Herx said it is now a human right in Canada and the Government is looking at bringing in euthanasia for mental health and for mature minors.

"Children who are felt to be capable of making their own healthcare decision and there's no minimum age, it's up to the physician to determine whether they understand."

She said once you start making euthanasia legal, it's very hard to know where to stop.