Angela Mary Harwood QSM

On October 21, 2026, peacefully at Avonlea Dementia Care, Christchurch, aged 85 years. Much loved sister of John, Anne, Tony, Kate (all deceased), Sally, and Ronnie, incredible loved auntie of her 22 nieces and nephews, and great auntie to many more. Special thanks to the team at Avonlea Dementia Care for their care of Angela over recent years. Loved and cherished friend to many with special mention to G.I.F.T, and the New Zealand Special Olympics. In leiu of flowers, donations to the IHC would be appreciated and may be made online at ihc.org.nz. Angela Harwood QSM was a Birmingham policewoman who joined the New Zealand Police in 1964, became the first policewoman in Porirua and Tauranga, and served at both the Wahine disaster and the Erebus identification operation. She rose to Inspector leading community relations in Manukau, specialised in youth work, championed women in policing, and received the QSM in 1981 for services to young people and people with intellectual disabilities. 
 
A life of service, a legacy of caring , you touched many life’s with faith, fun, and joy you made a difference that will never be forgotten. 
 
Messages may be addressed to: The family of the late Angela Harwood, c/- PO Box 39001, Christchurch 8545. A Requiem Mass for Angela will be celebrated at Our Lady Star of the Sea, 42 Dryden Street, Sumner, Christchurch, on November 2, at 10.30am.