Abby Hartley, pictured with her daughter Sophie, husband Richard and son Toby, right.
Abby Hartley, pictured with her daughter Sophie, husband Richard and son Toby, right.
The family of New Zealander Abby Hartley, who has died in a Bali hospital, say she will be forever in their hearts.
Hartley, 41, was on a second honeymoon when she became ill at the start of August. She had been in an induced coma in hospital with her family by her bedside. She died on Sunday.
Hartley's husband Richard and son Toby were by her side until her last breath.
"On Sunday morning 8.55am Bali time mum let go after fighting and fighting a very long battle," Hartley's daughter Sophie said in a statement.
"Mum is at peace now and we are extremely grateful for the many years of joy and love mum brought us.
"We have no bad feelings towards the Government and we understand their decision to not assist us with getting mum home."
Abby Hartley had been in an induced coma in hospital with her family by her bedside. She had been taken to hospital at the start of August. The Hamilton woman died on Sunday.
Abby Hartley with her husband Richard on the way to hospital in Bali in August.
A Givealittle page, run by the Spark Foundation, had raised $237,602, to cover Hartley's medical costs and evacuation back to New Zealand after an insurance claim was denied due to a pre-existing condition.
Spark Foundation lead Kate Thomas said they were "saddened" at the news Hartley had died.
"Our thoughts are with her family right now."
The Givealittle page had closed on August 30 and, given the emergency nature of the situation, all funds had been paid to the Hartley family, she said.
"Sophie Hartley has been incredibly diligent with updating the page and responding to questions from the public.
"We are confident when she or her family are ready they will update the page with how any funds remaining will be used.
"In the meantime we wish to respect her space to grieve the loss of her mum."
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said today she was "gutted" to learn of Hartley's death.
Hartley's family had asked the Government for help to medevac her back to New Zealand but Ardern ruled out the assistance.
"I learned yesterday, late afternoon, of Abby's passing. There's no doubt that this obviously is gutting and including for all the New Zealanders who reached out to support the family," Ardern said on Radio NZ.
"The money was raised to bring her home and it is incredibly sad that that opportunity just didn't eventuate."
Ardern said she had been surprised, while working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Mfat), by the number of New Zealanders who sought and were given consular support every year.
"Over 200 cases where medical issues arise where Mfat does provide support. That support just doesn't extend to bringing them home and hasn't done, and nor do really any of our international counterparts either."
Ardern said help could be provided to Kiwis abroad, but that did not absolve insurers of their obligations to customers.
"When it comes to significant medical events, then that's when we're always hoping and seeking the assistance of insurers to support New Zealanders, when there are situations like medevacs," she told TVNZ.
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman said the New Zealand Embassy in Jakarta was providing consular assistance to the family.
"We were saddened to learn that Abby Hartley has died," he said.
"Our thoughts are with Abby's family at this difficult time."
National leader Simon Bridges said it was an awful situation but he did not want to play politics over the Government's decision to not fund a medevac for Hartley.
"Today I'd like to be entirely about the family and them grieving for Abby," he told reporters on his way into today's National Party caucus at Parliament.
"I don't want to play any politics with this. Today is not the day.
"I can understand what the Prime Minister and Winston Peters have said about precedents, albeit I would say we do in government whether it is National government or a Labour-led government break with precedents all the time.
"But they are really things for the Prime Minister. I don't seek to play any politics about this. It's very much about grieving for Abby and for this family to have a bit of space to do that."
Hartley fell ill at the start of last month while holidaying at the tourist destination and was eventually placed in an induced coma on August 15.
She had contracted septicaemia, and her hospital bill was well over $100,000. Her insurance company refused to pay the bill, telling her family her illness related to a pre-existing condition.
A Givealittle page to help fund her return to New Zealand raised more $230,000 after the Government refused to intervene.
