MINISTERIAL COMMITTEE ON SUICIDE PREVENTION
10:30–11:30am, 28 October 2010
MINUTES
1. Welcome
Hon Peter Dunne opened the meeting and welcomed those present.
Ministers Present
Hon Peter Dunne
Hon Jonathan Coleman
Associate Minister of Health (Chair)
Associate Minister of Health
Ministerial Advisors Present
Hayden Cox
Jennifer Langton
Ana Bidois
Helen Leahy
Gabrielle Roberts
Scott Spackman
Phil Rennie
Julie Anne Williams
Stephen Church
Stu Bartlett
Office of Hon Peter Dunne
Office of Hon Peter Dunne
Office of Hon Tariana Turia
Office of Hon Tariana Turia
Office of Hon Jonathan Coleman
Office of Hon Judith Collins
Office of Hon Nathan Guy
Office of Hon Pansy Wong
Office of Hon Simon Power
Office of Hon Paula Bennett
Interagency Committee Officials Present
David Chaplow
Nemu Lallu
Memo Musa
Jennie Darby
Susan Wauchop
Shelley Dean
Nicholas Pole
Dee Young
Pam Southey
Nova Salomen
Rhea Leuthwaite
Debby Edwards
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Health
Ministry of Youth Development
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Education
New Zealand Injury Prevention Secretariat (ACC)
Ministry of Justice
Child Youth and Family
Office of the Chief Coroner
Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs
Also present
Chief Coroner
Judge Neil MacLean
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Apologies
Hon Simon Power
Hon Judith Collins
Hon Paula Bennett
Hon Anne Tolley
Hon Tariana Turia
Hon Pansy Wong
Hon Nathan Guy
Hon Dr Pita Sharples
Hon Georgina Te Heuheu
Prof Sir Peter Gluckman
Minister of Justice
Minister of Police and Minister of Corrections
Minister of Social Development and Employment and
Minister of Youth Affairs
Minister of Education
Associate Minister of Health
Minister of Women’s Affairs, Associate Minister of ACC
Minister of Internal Affairs
Minister of Māori Affairs
Minister of Pacific Island Affairs
Office of the Prime Minister’s Science Advisory Committee
2(i). Confirmation of minutes from the previous Ministerial Committee on
Suicide Prevention meeting on 18 March 2010
The Committee agreed that the minutes were a true and accurate record of the meeting.
2(ii). Matters arising from minutes of previous meetings
There were no matters arising from the minutes.
3.
Suicide and the Media
Hon Peter Dunne tabled three papers
 the draft report for the Prime Minister covering the information requested in his
instruction to the Committee
 the joint briefing paper from the Ministries of Justice and Health
 the paper prepared by the Chief Coroner, Judge Neil MacLean.
Hon Peter Dunne explained that the focus of the meeting would be on the reporting of
suicide and invited the Chief Coroner to talk to his paper.
Chief Coroner’s comments
3.1
Judge Neil MacLean explained the background to his release of the provisional suicide
data and the subsequent media interest. He does not think that the law should be
changed. He does consider however that it might be beneficial to have a change in
coronial practice to ‘gently open up’ discussion on suicide. He also noted:
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the Coroners Act 2006 outlines the functions of the Chief Coroner and includes
(section 7(m)) “to help, by education, publicity, and liaison with the public, to
promote understanding of, and co-operation with, the coronial system provided
for by this Act”
the Coroners Conference (Auckland, November 22–25 2010) will include a
session on youth suicide and the role of the media
Coroners cannot talk about an individual case once the inquiry is concluded, but
the Chief Coroner has a responsibility to comment on trends and patterns
a practice note does not change the law, but is a guide to coronial best practice.
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Judge MacLean acknowledged that the length of time between a death and a Coroner’s
findings can be frustrating for the media. The process of inquiry is speeding up with
findings ‘on the paper’ being used increasingly. This means that where the investigation
is complete and where all parties agree, the Coroner can issue findings on the basis of
the papers and does not have to conduct a court hearing.
Judge Maclean has, in the past, had to contact media organisations expressing concern
about their pushing the boundaries on what reporting and conjecture is legally allowed
within the Coroners Act 2006.
3.2
Issues
Judge MacLean identified the following issues that he felt could usefully be addressed:
 the need for media education on the meaning of sub judice and the
understanding of the common law rule
 clarification for the media, of what is meant by ‘the manner in which a death
occurred’ s71(1) Coroners Act 2006
 re-examination of the Suicide and the Media resource acknowledging that the
internet has changed matters
 the breaching of s71(1) Coroners Act 2006 and the need for coroners to draw
breaches to the attention of the police.
3.3
Discussion
Hon Peter Dunne opened up the discussion and the following points were made:
 it is important to involve media organisations in any review of the Suicide and the
Media resource, although it is acknowledged that there have been many
attempts to do so in the past with mixed success
 Māori families and communities are asking for more accessible information to be
made available, so that families and communities can help and support those at
risk of suicide
 there are examples of certain sectors of the media being inappropriately pushy
and demanding when it comes to the death of school students
 the issue of responsible reporting is as much about ethical behaviour as it is
about freedom of the press.
3.4
Summing up
Hon Peter Dunne summed up the discussion and noted that while there is some
agreement on what is not wanted, there is still a lack of clarity about what is acceptable
in relation to media reporting of suicides. He acknowledged that for change to happen
there needs to be some common understanding between the Ministry of Health, the
Chief Coroner and the media.
He proposed that the recommendations in the joint briefing paper be changed to read:
48. It is recommended that the Ministerial Committee on Suicide Prevention:
a. direct the Ministry of Health to work with the Chief Coroner and the Ministries
of Justice and Education and report to Hon Dunne by December 2010 on the
scope of a review and update of the Suicide and the Media resource. The
scope of the review is to include the involvement of media organisations,
mental health professionals and other interested parties
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b. direct the Ministry of Health to report to the next meeting of the Ministerial
Committee in February/March 2011, on the progress of the review
c. agree to send the attached report to the Prime Minister in response to his
instruction to the Committee.
Hon Peter Dunne also proposed that the recommendations in the report to the Prime
Minister be changed to read:
37. The Ministerial Committee on Suicide Prevention recommends that you:
a. note: that the Committee has considered the policy settings in the Coroners
Act 2006
b. note: that while the weight of research evidence shows a clear link between
the reporting of suicide, copycat suicides and suicide ideation in some
cohorts there remains some debate about this evidence, particularly by the
media
c. note: that while most media organisations report responsibly some journalists
ignore Coroners Act requirements and report or act inappropriately when a
suicide occurs
d. note: that the Committee has directed the Ministry of Health to work with the
Chief Coroner and the Ministries of Justice and Education, to report to Hon
Dunne by December 2010 on the scope of a review and update of the
Suicide and the Media resource; and to report on progress to the next
meeting of the Ministerial Committee in February/March 2011.
3.5
Decisions
The Committee:
 noted the Chief Coroner’s paper
 adopted the joint briefing paper on Suicide and Media Reporting with the
changes outlined above
 agreed that the report drafted for the Prime Minister, with the changes outlined
above, be adopted and forwarded to him.
4.
Papers for information
Hon Peter Dunne tabled two papers for information:
 Suicide Prevention and Pacific People
 Suicide Prevention Research Fund update.
5.
Other business
There was no other business.
6.
Date of next meeting
The next meeting will be arranged for February/March 2011.
(Note: the meeting arranged for February 2011 did not take place due to the Canterbury
earthquake.)
Meeting closed at 11.30am.
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