Napier woman Polly Fairbrother found dead at Waimarama

Polly Fairbrother, who died at the weekend, pictured at the Magnolia Tree in Napier. Photo / Supplied

A woman who was found dead at Waimarama on Sunday was the daughter of prominent Napier barrister and former MP for Napier Russell Fairbrother QC, and had lost her own twin daughters in a fire 15 years ago.

She was Polly McCourtie Fairbrother, 46, daughter of the barrister and first wife Pat Hill and mother of twins Hannah and Jessie Macdonald, who died age 8 in a house fire in Hastings early on the night of August 25, 2003.

The girls were living with their father and brother who escaped the blaze, their father receiving significant burns when the ceiling collapsed as he tried to reach the girls.

A death notice published in Hawke's Bay Today says: "Polly has presented a very brave face for the last 15 years and will be long and fondly remembered."

Her father, who has acted for the defence in hundreds of court cases involving family tragedy, told Hawke's Bay Today: "I don't know how she coped for so long.

"To lose two 8-year-olds in a flash is inconceivably tragic.

"To survive for another 15 years was absolutely wonderful. We loved Polly so much and all miss her. She was, and still is, part of a very strong and rewarding family."

It was Polly Fairbrother, a caring and creative type with interests in artwork, music performances and photography, who inspired regular but loosely-knit Friday-lunch hour Under the Magnolia Tree gatherings outside St Paul's Church in Tennyson St, Napier.

It stemmed from a comment her father had made to Napier Pilot City Trust stalwart and social issues dynamo Pat Magill about meetings to deal with issues, big or small, private and public.

"Polly found a particular affinity with that tree," Magill said.

"So we started meeting there every Friday. It was about a year ago."

Her funeral is being held at Pukemokimoki Marae, Napier, the final service starting at 2pm on Thursday.