On the 29-1-2025 , my dad (Adrian John Ward ) passed away in his home . One of who the New Zealand police state is one of dad’s friends found him . This friend Ross Fitzgerald is currently in prison for taking advantage of a vulnerable sick person taking over $160,000 out of his bank account he was trusted to look after . 
we found out by fluke about our dads passing on the 27th April 2025 .  
New Zealand police have said it is not there job to notify every single living relative! 
they didn’t notify any family ! 
The coroner is asking me to ask why did they make more of an effort to find us ? 
New Zealand police have now come back in said Mr Fitzgerald was listed as next of kin on our dads medical records, which is untrue Mr Fitzgerald is simply listed as an emergency contact! 
I have put a complaint into to independent police conduct authority, to have complaint closed , untill my story went into the press , then my complaint was sent to a senior group at the IPCA for a one case review.
Mr Fitzgerald was first at the scene, Mr Fitzgerald then was given the power to have my dad cremated, he was given the power to clean out my dad’s home . As an Emergency Contact person on a doctors record . When I should have been found my mum was listed in my dads police file aswell as Children  , police have said well you haven’t seen him since you were little untrue facts I lived with my dad in my teen years, as well as me & my sister found out where he was at the start of the year and went to visit him taking him a number of items , clothes , food , I also took photos of myself & my children he hung on his wall I am told .. we spent the hole day with him in which we are greatful we got that time with him .
so who’s job is it ? 

to actually notify family ? 
why wasn’t the information passed onto our mum to break the news to her daughters? 
when there is still a number of living relatives!

why was he able to turn from Emergency contact to next of kin ?

why was he able to clean out and take my dads belongings?

when they should have gone to public trust ?

why was I left hearing over and over I can not give you that information, he has a next of kin get a lawyer? 

The lack of effort and care needs change !

Mr Fitzgerald had already done what he had done to his other victim, when I went to Temuka Police and yet he still was made next of kin with having his name as a emergency contact on Doctor’s enrolment forms ! 
telling police he would find us ! He didn’t even bother looking . 

someone should be held accountable as far as I’m concerned! 
we didn’t get to decide what happened after our dad passed away ! 
we didn’t get closer from a funeral or service!

we didn’t get to clean out our dads home ! 
We didn’t get to keep our dad’s bag he used to wear everywhere, nor did we get any of his drawings .

instead I got Ross Fitzgerald is next of kin do you know him ? (No , he isn’t family )
I suggest you get a lawyer!

sorry we do not get involved in family arguments ! ( He is not family ) 

I rung three funeral homes to try find out who looked after my dad to be told , sorry you didn’t sign the paperwork or pay the bill ! So I can not give you any information….

Three months later I’m still emailing , making calls trying to work out where it all went so wrong ! 

im writing this today to make people aware it’s extremely important to have everything in order for when you pass away , it’s the small sentimental items I think mean the most ! 
I also hope we get the outcome we deserve from IPCA , because it’s is so wrong ! 

I’d like Ross Fitzgerald held accountable for what he has done to us girls ! 
I love to have my dad’s items returned where they truly belong ….

R.I.P Addy 29-1-1962/29-1-2025

Sahra Ward