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Almost $240K donated to seriously ill Kiwi woman in Bali - 'Luckily New Zealanders are generous'

The ACT leader said the transition of six NZ charter schools to designated character schools was a waste of time.

Almost $240,000 has been raised through crowd funding for a Kiwi woman unable to afford a medical evacuation after falling seriously ill in Bali.

However, it is a generous feat that should not have been left up to the New Zealand public to dip into their own pockets, said ACT leader David Seymour. 

Abby Hartley of Hamilton was put into an induced coma while on holiday in Bali after she suffered a twisted bowel, went into acute respiratory distress syndrome and then developed a chest infection which led to a collapsed lung.

Her insurance company declined to pay the hospital bills and the family turned to the New Zealand Government for help but were rejected. A Givealittle page set up by the family generated $236,605 as of 12.20pm today. 

"[New Zealanders] have been prepared to give their own money where Jacinda Ardern and Winston Peters weren't prepared to act," Mr Seymour told 1 NEWS. "They have been mean in this case, luckily New Zealanders are generous."

Mr Seymour said "frivolous spending" by the Government meant people in situations like Ms Hartley suffered the consequences. 

"There's no shortage of tax payer money that is spent on all sorts of things with very little oversight or care or concern. It's sometimes important to remind people that all this kind of frivolous spending has consequences. One of the consequences are that it's harder to look after people who are in genuine need."

Yesterday, the Prime Minister said the Hartley's situation was "deeply distressing", but she ultimately hoped the insurance company would "step in and assist families in cases like this where there is insurance involved". 

The Government says it's an insurance issue and won't pay for the medical evacuation of Abby Hartley.

When asked if it were the place for the insurer to step up, Mr Seymour said, "It is, but the ultimate insurer is actually Government". 

"Is it that difficult that Government could make a decision to help somebody who clearly has found themselves in a difficult situation, that they had taken reasonable precautions to avoid by having some insurances? Clearly New Zealanders do agree."

Background

Ms Hartley's husband Richard Hartley told NZ Herald the insurance company was unable to pay for evacuation because of a pre-existing medical condition. 

Mr Hartley wrote to the Government for help, with Foreign Minister Winston Peters responding: "I have to confirm that the New Zealand Government is unable to fund the costs of medical care of evacuations for New Zealanders who become ill while overseas," reported NZ Herald. 

The latest update on the Givealittle page read : "Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone with each little donation and each little share. Every little bit matters and we would be this far without everyone's support. Thank you, The Hartleys."

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