Jacinda Ardern says the situation is "deeply distressing" for the family of a seriously ill Kiwi woman stuck in Bali who can't afford medical evacuation.
Abby Hartley of Hamilton found herself in severe pain on the first day of a holiday with her husband Richard on August 1 and she was rushed to a private hospital in Nusa Dua, Denpasar.
Speaking to media today, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the issue remains one for insurers and not the Government.
"This is deeply distressing for the family, I can only imagine that kind of situation and I know the MFAT team on the ground are doing what they can.
"Ultimately what we hope is that in these cases insurers really step in and assist families in cases like this where there is insurance involved," Ms Ardern said.
According to a Givealittle page set up by her daughter Sophie, Abby's bowel had twisted, cutting off blood flow to a portion of it, and while emergency surgery went well, she then went into acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Doctors made the decision to put her into an induced coma and began supplying her oxygen through a respirator.
She also developed a severe chest infection leading to one of her lungs collapsing. The family say she has since been moved to a public hospital, but antibiotics are now not working for her.
Her insurance company has declined to pay the hospital bills and the family set up a Givealittle page to help cover these.
"The longer we stay the sicker she is going to get, and the bills just keep increasing. We need to get her home," Richard Hartley has told the NZ Herald.
He had emailed Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on August 18 and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters responded saying the Government is unable to help.
"I understand that Abby's situation is a very challenging one," Mr Peters said in his response, quoted by NZ Herald yesterday.
"However 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."
He recommended they approach their insurers, and the New Zealand embassy in Jakarta for consular assistance.
"I wish Abby well with her recovery, and hope she is well enough to return to New Zealand soon."
Mr Hartley said getting Abby home to New Zealand would cost up to $160,000.
He said the medical bills were at nearly $100,000 and still rising.
The Givealittle page shows $196,000 has been donated.
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