Abby Hartley dies

The Herald reports:

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says she’s “gutted” to learn of the death of New Zealander Abby Hartley in a Bali hospital.

Hartley, 41, was on a second honeymoon when she became ill. She 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.

Her family had asked the Government for help to medevac her back to New Zealand but Ardern ruled out the assistance.

Today the Prime Minister offered her condolences to the Hartley family.

“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.”

Condolences to her family and friends. 41 is far too young to die.

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.

I agree the state shouldn’t step in to cover people without insurance. However that is exactly what this Government has done in Christchurch. So there is a lack of consistency.