A Māori advocate for the disabled says debate around the End of Life Choice Act referendum is being driven by the dominant culture with no room for the views of Māori and other minorities.

Māori seem to be divided down the middle on the referendum, which if passed will allow the Act to immediately come into effect.

Huhana Hickey says the new law does not include sufficient protections against abuse.

She says in countries which allow assisted suicide, the main reason people choose to be euthenised is not pain but because they feel they are a burden to others.

"Now that’s a western thing. That's not our way. And if we are a burden to our whānau, I have to ask how connected is that whānau to who they are? Because we are not burdens. Our old people are not burdens to us. What do we do? We go tell our grandchild or the youngest in the whānau 'go care for mum, go care for dad.' Because what we do is we look after those that looked after us," Dr Hickey says.

She says the referendum seems driven by people’s fear of dying – which is not a good basis for voting.

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