Power cut off, woman dies

[LilSel]

What do you think about this?

story (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10442627)

[Beemer]

Will wait to hear the full story. Used to work for a power company and anyone who had a lifethreatening illness that required the power to be on at all times, regardless of their payment history, had a note on their file. Their power would NEVER be cut off under any circumstances.

I'm not saying the woman didn't die because the power supply to her oxygen was cut off, but I wonder if the power company was made aware of this before and also if the guy was told this when he arrived to cut off the power. In circumstances like that, they always ring the power company to see what they should do. Most of them are pretty compassionate and try to avoid cutting off the power if they can, so it will be interesting to see what the full story is.

If the power company was aware of all the facts and went ahead anyway, then that is pretty appalling.

[LilSel]

I mean... by reading the media's account of events... what is your perspective on this tragic event??

[beyond]

I think that's pretty bloody sick. Terrible news!

You would think such an important piece of equipment would be fitted with aback up battery and a notifcation alarm as well.

I do think before people act they need to find why things haven't been paid especially when there are people around like this.

[Blackadda]

They are supposed to let people know when they are cutting off the power.

On the other hand, what if someone hits the pole and the power is out for an hour or so while it gets fixed????

[gijoe1313]

This sort of scenario, you normally read about it happening in other countries. Not in good ol'NZ :no:

What a tragic, senseless thing to happen :weep: So many questions, but the answer is still the same. A needless death.

[LilSel]

Will wait to hear the full story. Used to work for a power company and anyone who had a lifethreatening illness that required the power to be on at all times, regardless of their payment history, had a note on their file. Their power would NEVER be cut off under any circumstances.

I'm not saying the woman didn't die because the power supply to her oxygen was cut off, but I wonder if the power company was made aware of this before and also if the guy was told this when he arrived to cut off the power. In circumstances like that, they always ring the power company to see what they should do. Most of them are pretty compassionate and try to avoid cutting off the power if they can, so it will be interesting to see what the full story is.

If the power company was aware of all the facts and went ahead anyway, then that is pretty appalling.


:rockon:

Just wondering what peoples takes are... I look forward to the full story coming out

[MisterD]

Somebody fucked up big time, I wouldn't like to say if it was the power co or the customer yet though....

[Thomas]

They are supposed to let people know when they are cutting off the power.

On the other hand, what if someone hits the pole and the power is out for an hour or so while it gets fixed????

I bet there is more to this story than the media is letting on.

[Swoop]

I mean... by reading the media's account of events... what is your perspective on this tragic event??
My perspective is to wonder what media "spin" has been placed on this "tragic" event.
More to it than meets the eye, methinks.

[LilSel]

On the other hand, what if someone hits the pole and the power is out for an hour or so while it gets fixed????

Force majeure...

Who would be to blame in that case? The car driver?

[MisterD]

My perspective is to wonder what media "spin" has been placed on this "tragic" event.
More to it than meets the eye, methinks.

Ooh you cynical bugger Swoop....:niceone:

[Beemer]

I can't remember the full details from when I worked for a power company but the person who had the power account would have received a reminder notice two weeks after the account was meant to have been paid. That would have been followed by a letter telling them the power would be disconnected if they didn't pay within a certain time, and if no payment was received, they would be sent a disconnection notice, saying their power would be disconnected within 24 hours. They would have to pay and ring in with their receipt number to avoid the power being disconnected.

Considering the number of times power is cut due to accidents, storms, etc, this woman should have had a back-up power supply. Also, was she confined to the house at all times? If not, how did she cope whenever she left the house? I don't want to be too cynical, but I think there is going to be a shitload more to this story than we are being told right now.

[LilSel]

I bet there is more to this story than the media is letting on.


My perspective is to wonder what media "spin" has been placed on this "tragic" event.
More to it than meets the eye, methinks.

Its crazy... Media gone wild!!...

[LilSel]

I can't remember the full details from when I worked for a power company.

I still work for one... :dodge:

[MSTRS]

Communication. From both sides.
Keyword I picked up on was 'immigrant' - was English a second language, so were unable to ensure powerco was aware? And was there an officious little man with a clipboard who failed to ascertain this info?

[skelstar]

Ultimately the media are going to give the story the most dramatic angle. They maybe holding the least damning information back.

[Grahameeboy]

Communication. From both sides.
Keyword I picked up on was 'immigrant' - was English a second language, so were unable to ensure powerco was aware? And was there an officious little man with a clipboard who failed to ascertain this info?

Even if there was a communication issue, surely the Husband could have used gestures like, "come inside and I will show you".

Also, with medical equipment it is important to tell the Power Company so that they can re-route power for special cases in he event of a power cut.

There is clearly more to this story.

[chanceyy]

I can't remember the full details from when I worked for a power company but the person who had the power account would have received a reminder notice two weeks after the account was meant to have been paid. That would have been followed by a letter telling them the power would be disconnected if they didn't pay within a certain time, and if no payment was received, they would be sent a disconnection notice, saying their power would be disconnected within 24 hours. They would have to pay and ring in with their receipt number to avoid the power being disconnected.

Considering the number of times power is cut due to accidents, storms, etc, this woman should have had a back-up power supply. Also, was she confined to the house at all times? If not, how did she cope whenever she left the house? I don't want to be too cynical, but I think there is going to be a shitload more to this story than we are being told right now.


your pretty much on the mark there beemer .. from the time an account goes overdue til the time a cusotmer is disconnected there is approximately 5-6 week period, in this time they get a reminder phone call, letter, disconnection telegram 48 hours prior to the event. Not to mention their next bill showing an overdue amount.

The customer has plenty of time to call & sort out a payment arrangement & there are now a number of ways customers can pay their debt off .. either short term arrangement or a set amount each pay period that will include arrears being paid off over a 12 month period & their current accounts

majority of ppl would prefer to bury their head in the sand & pretend their bill is not there .. of course there are set policies for those with medical conditions & once this is determined they are never disconnected.

In this case there would be more than meets the eye, cause if the network was to experience a fault & a general power failure the oxygen has a back up system for so many hours .. & if it can not be determined how long the fault will be in action then most call ambulances to take them to hospital or have back up supplys delivered in a short period of time.

Contractors are there to do a job & do not debate the issues with a customer, however most will call the elect company if an issue is presented, to determine if they are still to proceed

at the end of the day disconnection is not a quick process, the customers have to take some responsibility in calling the power co & discussing their particular needs or issues..

still awaiting to hear the full details myself, but knowing the processes in place in this case the family should have been more proactive in following up the debt issue.

& yes I work for a power co .. not the one mentioned ... retail side so I deal with escalated issues like this on a daily basis

Hi Jantar .. hows the generation site today :D

[NighthawkNZ]

the power company wouldn't just turn the power off without warning, and late payment notices etc...

If they payed the ferkin bill and they would still have power simple...

But There must be more to the story... and as Beemer points out... was she confined to the house... did she have to be on this machine 24/7, :scratch: if the lady in question couldn't pay then the family should have followed it up...

oh boy am I expecting red reps or what...

[chanceyy]

Wanna trade places?

LOL NOPE :nono: it could have easily been our company .. thats why there is more to this than meets the eye ..

yes I am pretty familiar with the policy & process issues around this, funny if ppl actually called early when they have a debt they would find out so much more info .. esp on easy payment terms .. but most wait til the eleventh hour when its too late .. up til that point we can assist in many ways .. once a property is disconnected then policy is pretty firm. not to mention the additonal fees that are added once a property is disconnected

[Grahameeboy]

the power company wouldn't just turn the power off without warning, and late payment notices etc...

If they payed the ferkin bill and they would still have power simple...

But There must be more to the story... and as Beemer points out... was she confined to the house... did she have to be on this machine 24/7, :scratch: if the lady in question couldn't pay then the family should have followed it up...

oh boy am I expecting red reps or what...


No you are safe.....could just be that the family were under mega stress...being immigrants maybe a bit niave......and with all the stress, money problems and looking after the Wife, time went on and it slipped the net.......just seems bizzare that the Family did not ring up or like I said, show the power guys the equipment.

[LilSel]

LOL NOPE :nono: it could have easily been our company .. thats why there is more to this than meets the eye ..

yes I am pretty familiar with the policy & process issues around this, funny if ppl actually called early when they have a debt they would find out so much more info .. esp on easy payment terms .. but most wait til the eleventh hour when its too late .. up til that point we can assist in many ways .. once a property is disconnected then policy is pretty firm. not to mention the additonal fees that are added once a property is disconnected

There is ALOT more than meets the eye in this case...

[Freakshow]

If they had an illness and required the power they should have paid the bill, or communicated the problem, I would imagine that even the doctor or some one would have said something. And the powercut problem brings a good point! Why wasn't a UPS there or something!

[Storm]

No comment until both sides of this story get through is the best policy methinks

[Jantar]

Hi Jantar .. hows the generation site today :D
No idea. I've got a couple of days off, :woohoo: so right now I'm supposed to be doing my tax return. :confused: Almost done.

[LilSel]

No comment until both sides of this story get through is the best policy methinks

:yes: I agree....
Until the full story is heard from both sides will things become clearer.
The media however, will tell the story they want people to know

[chanceyy]

No idea. I've got a couple of days off, :woohoo: so right now I'm supposed to be doing my tax return. :confused: Almost done.


yes well its only 10 days & i have a week & half off .. hoping to get some bike time in after i been to see olds ( they still do not know I am riding a bike :lol:)

[Paul in NZ]

Pretty odd story...

Speaking for myself - If my life depended upon a constant supply of power I would make sure my supplier knew that AND I would have back up measures in place. We loose power maybe 5 times a year due to road accidents and lightening strikes etc and often waaay longer than 2 hours but usually less.

I'd have a little generator (cheap at supercheap) and a call list of neighbours and family etc I could call on to get to in a hurry. As someone else said - battery back up etc??

If the power went off - why didn't the son go next door ffs?

Odd - very bloody odd...

[chanceyy]

:yes: I agree....
Until the full story is heard from both sides will things become clearer.
The media however, will tell the story they want people to know


that is a given however sensationalism sells papers

[terbang]

Shareholders profits must come before customers needs...! Right...? Umm hang on a lady is dead..?

[SPman]

On the story as told...
Fuckups are a way of life for power companies
The power company has an out - it was the contractors fault! - unless the argument goes the contractors job was to cut of the power, it was Mercuries responsibility to ensure power was supplied in these situations.
All round, regardless, an almighty disaster and PR nightmare, at the least, for Mercury!

But - there's always 2 sides to the story and the media are renowned for their own take on it!

[Lias]

If they'd paid the fucking bill they wouldnt have been cut off.

Even if the power company knew about it, they arnt a charity. Blame lies squarely with the account holder who didnt pay the bill, end of story. But our pinko journos will put a spin on it that its the evil corporations fault for disconnecting poor starving immigrants..

Call me harsh but seems like a good end to me.. Company cuts off a deadbeat customer (helps keep our power prices down), and another immigrant stops bludging off our health system.

Wins all around really, one can only hope the rest of the family will pack up and piss off back overseas in a huff.

[Winston001]

Wouldn't it have been easier all round to just pay the power bill? Like the rest of us?

The family relative on Morning Report sounded pretty switched on. Why didn't he help out before this ever happened, if these were immigrants with poor understanding?

[magicfairy]

Pretty odd story...


If the power went off - why didn't the son go next door ffs?

Odd - very bloody odd...

They are immigrants, English is probably poor, and they may not have been very sure if they had any recourse, or reluctant to call attention to the fact they hadn't paid their bills.
I am sure most of us would have had the media down there, contacted the local MP or rung an ambulance straight away. But there are a lot of folk out there who don't think they have rights and have no idea how to ask for help.

[MD]

As always the headline shouts between the lines ..bastard heartless corporate company strikes again.
There is more on Xtra News about this now. Keys points;

1.From the surname sounds like Zimbabwe immigrants or thereabouts at a guess. But Xtra says they had full grasp of English.
2. Mercury spokeman provided a run down on the numerous warnings issued over 6-8 weeks that the power would be cut
3. The family were home and the workman was taken inside, shown the oyxgen machine but HE still disconnected. Apparently he is meant to phone HQ for advice when a medical risk is involved. Don't like his chances of a bonus this year.
Sad as it is, it still begs the question, why did the family not pay the bill knowing how important it was- they knew because they told the workman.

[terbang]

Financial hardship, poor communication or whatever, they didn't or couldn't pay the bill. That happens for many reasons..:

A relative who married into Mrs Muliaga's family, Brenden Sheehan, said she had been off work since February with an illness.

Mrs Muliaga's husband Lopa, a chef's assistant, had been forced to reduce his work hours in order to care for her

Looks like they were going through tough times and yet they were working people (not dole people) and didn't get any relief or help from anyone.



Call me harsh but seems like a good end to me.. Company cuts off a deadbeat customer (helps keep our power prices down), and another immigrant stops bludging off our health system.

When you are lying in a bed paralysed after someone has kicked your head in for shooting off your loud, redneck mouth. Lets hope your power bill is up to date.

[Hitcher]

I am waiting for the facts. I wonder if we'll ever get to hear them.

And could somebody please give Sue Bradford a slap.

[Paul in NZ]

They are immigrants, English is probably poor, and they may not have been very sure if they had any recourse, or reluctant to call attention to the fact they hadn't paid their bills.
I am sure most of us would have had the media down there, contacted the local MP or rung an ambulance straight away. But there are a lot of folk out there who don't think they have rights and have no idea how to ask for help.

Well they said they had a good command of english and had been here several years. I've lived here all my life and I still would not trust the 230V from a socket IF my life depended on it. I'd have a plan B, it's just common sense despite all the other things they could have done!

Put it this way.... Lets assume these folks cane from Africa... If I went to africa and went for a stroll across in the country one night wearing a 'Robert Mugabe is a Homo' tee shirt and carrying a raw meat sandwich during the tse tse fly feeding hour and was either beaten to death, eaten by a Lion or got a horrible tropical disease we would all think what a dumb bastard for not doing the spade work to figure that out!

If a threat exisits you must think about the possibilities...

Another point to consider. I wonder what would have happened had she developed this condition in her country of origin? Long dead I'd suspect. (not that this is particularly relevant).... BUT she sounded pretty damned ill and that usually means multiple factors.

Cheers

[Paul in NZ]

When you are lying in a bed paralysed after someone has kicked your head in for shooting off your loud, redneck mouth. Lets hope your power bill is up to date.


Fark - coffee came out my nose :shit:

[KATWYN]

You would think such an important piece of equipment would be fitted with aback up battery and a notifcation alarm as well.

.


Thats what I thought when I read it. What about an uncontrollable circumstance like a power outage in general....? Thats putting a lot of trust
in a service with absolutely no room for error

[magicfairy]

Perhaps it was because it was oxygen to supplement breathing as opposed to something like a ventilator. My grandmother had oxygen at home in her last few months of life in case she had a shortness of breath, to use when needed. That didn't have a battery back up that I can remember.

[Beemer]

1.From the surname sounds like Zimbabwe immigrants or thereabouts at a guess. But Xtra says they had full grasp of English.

"Mangere woman Folole Muliaga, 44, was an early childhood teacher and mother of four children aged from five to 18."

The name is definitely not African! I Googled it and it seems to come from American Samoa so they were your usual run of the mill Islanders.

"A relative who married into Mrs Muliaga's family, Brenden Sheehan, said she had been off work since February with an illness.

Mrs Muliaga's husband Lopa, a chef's assistant, had been forced to reduce his work hours in order to care for her."

She had lived here for six years and the updated story on Stuff says she was an early childhood teacher so I would imagine she spoke some English, as would her children, especially the younger ones. And if there was a problem with English, why didn't Brenden ring the power company?

What's the bet the true story was the guy arrived to cut the power off, cut it off and had left by the time they realised what had happened. They have no obligation to knock on the door and let them know they are cutting off the power; the people would have received a registered letter or similar the day before advising them it would be happening. They had plenty of chances to organise payment or at least let the power company know what was going on. Kinda hard to raise much sympathy when the family obviously didn't care enough for this woman to ensure her life was not put at risk.

[MisterD]

3. The family were home and the workman was taken inside, shown the oyxgen machine but HE still disconnected. Apparently he is meant to phone HQ for advice when a medical risk is involved. Don't like his chances of a bonus this year.

On the other hand, how many times do these power co. drones hear put-on sob-stories when they turn up to disconnect?

[Paul in NZ]

Whats an oxygen machine anyway? I though it came in a black / white cylinder?? Any why can't we have more of these machines - you know - global warmin and all?

[Lias]

When you are lying in a bed paralysed after someone has kicked your head in for shooting off your loud, redneck mouth. Lets hope your power bill is up to date.

Last I checked ranting about immigrants was more grounds for getting into parliament than getting your head kicked in, but if I was ever in a situation where I was dependant on the power like that for my life you can bet your arse that I would A: pay the fucking power bill and B: have a backup generator.

[magicfairy]

[QUOTE=MD;1075930]

What's the bet the true story was the guy arrived to cut the power off, cut it off and had left by the time they realised what had happened.
Then someone is lying as it is reported:
"Mr Sheehan said he had told the disconnect agent the woman needed power to survive on her oxygen machine."

[NighthawkNZ]

I will agree with the stress and stuff it may have slipped memory (even the family members... but the power company give you enough warnings to remind you...

Ring the company, you will be suprised how easy they are at help you.They do understand how you can get behind, but for gawds sake don't just sit on it... do something about it it... ring (unless your phone was cut off for the same reason... :scratch:

However till the full story is out in the open...


What's the bet the true story was the guy arrived to cut the power off, cut it off and had left by the time they realised what had happened. They have no obligation to knock on the door and let them know they are cutting off the power; the people would have received a registered letter or similar the day before advising them it would be happening. They had plenty of chances to organise payment or at least let the power company know what was going on. Kinda hard to raise much sympathy when the family obviously didn't care enough for this woman to ensure her life was not put at risk.

I agree... But I haven't read the full story either...

Either way... pay the bloody bill

[Beemer]

Then someone is lying as it is reported:
"Mr Sheehan said he had told the disconnect agent the woman needed power to survive on her oxygen machine."

Just to set the record straight in your post, it was me and not MD who thinks the guy had been and gone before anyone noticed the power was off.

[Bass]

Whats an oxygen machine anyway? I though it came in a black / white cylinder?? Any why can't we have more of these machines - you know - global warmin and all?

Had a relative with emphysema on one of these for about 7 years before she died.
If it's the same type of gadget, I think it's a molecular sieve type device which supplies air from which some of the nitrogen has been removed, thus enhancing the oxygen content.

[Robbo]

Counties Manukau District Health Board suggests the south Auckland woman who died after Mercury Energy cut off her power should have had time to call an ambulance.

Counties Manukau Chief Medical Officer Don Mackie says 44-year-old Folole Muliaga was sent home from Middlemore Hospital earlier this month. He says she had been admitted with a cardio-respiratory complaint and was discharged with a breathing support device.

"We do not expect it to be used 24 hours a day. Most people use them at night, particularly just to support their breathing and to relieve any distress from breathlessness while thy are sleeping."

Dr Mackie say he would expect people on the breathing support device would have time to seek help if the machine stopped working.


Yep! That's exactly how i heard it too. This was not a life support system, it was only for occassional breathing support. It appears that she or other family members would have had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements when the power was finally disconnected, even after many months of letters and warnings from the power company.
Still a tragic outcome all the same and hopefully lessons can be learnt from this, the first one being not to believe a one sided and melodramatic media report of the story made to sound sensational and secondly to pay your power bill on time or notify the Company who are usually happy to assist you in genuine cases of hardship.

[MisterD]

Yep! That's exactly how i heard it too. This was not a life support system, it was only for occassional breathing support. It appears that she or other family members would have had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements when the power was finally disconnected, even after many months of letters and warnings from the power company.
Still a tragic outcome all the same and hopefully lessons can be learnt from this, the first one being not to believe a one sided and melodramatic media report of the story made to sound sensational and secondly to pay your power bill on time or notify the Company who are usually happy to assist you in genuine cases of hardship.

I've just heard on the radio that if you are issued with one of these concentrator devices then Winz give you an extra electricity allowance to pay for it's electricity consumption...where did that cash get spent instead?

[Grahameeboy]

Like someone said they could have asked to use a neighbours house whilst someone paid the bill.

There were relatives....surely between them the bill could have been paid even if the family could not afford at time.

And of course called for the Ambulance.

Quite possible that Wife was stressed over the disconnection (if she knew about it) and lost consciousness due to stress affecting her breathing.

Find it hard to believe that a Hospital would discharge someone if they could not cope without oxygen for more than a few hours.

Lots of issues here I guess.

[LilSel]

I've just heard on the radio that if you are issued with one of these concentrator devices then Winz give you an extra electricity allowance to pay for it's electricity consumption...where did that cash get spent instead?

For real??...

[avgas]

I bet there is more to this story than the media is letting on.
She was smoking at the time....hehe
not but seriously folks this story does sound like a load of trollop.
Also i find it hard to believe to that they can't afford the power bills for 3 months. espec considering she would have been on acc.
Shit i could afford the power bill when i got $30/week for expenses.

[Bloody Mad Woman (BMW)]

A friend of mine is on oxygen 24/7. She has backup power, also has a very small travelling one. However as a last resort 111.

[Hitcher]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10442627

Slowly the facts leak out...

[magicfairy]

Check out the latest update from Stuff - looks like contractor DID know of the situation, and didn't care or follow procedure, and that they had been trying to pay the bill.

So until the whole story comes out, which it will do when the coroner looks at it, I don't we should lay blame on "immigrants" and make comments like "they had months to pay the bill"

No doubt there will be "an inquiry" and the result will be "a systemic failure in the system, no one person can be blamed, recommendations have been made to improve communications and prevent it hapenning again" "contractor was not given information about how handle this situation and inadequtely trained by the power company" "power company not at fault due to the actions of contractor"

And once again in this wonderful country of ours, with the "no blame" ACC laws no one pays or takes responsibility.

From Stuff News site:
"Having cut the power to a South Auckland home, a Mercury Energy contractor stood in front of Folole Muliaga and, over the shrill alarm of the oxygen machine, told her he was only doing his job"

"Particularly when I look at her power bill and see there have been two payments made in the last month," he said.

"And there is nothing in the bill about disconnection and it was only issued last Wednesday."

[Beemer]

From Stuff News site:
"Having cut the power to a South Auckland home, a Mercury Energy contractor stood in front of Folole Muliaga and, over the shrill alarm of the oxygen machine, told her he was only doing his job"

"Particularly when I look at her power bill and see there have been two payments made in the last month," he said.

"And there is nothing in the bill about disconnection and it was only issued last Wednesday."

And so say the relatives. Considering the contractor would have been fully aware of the consequences if he had taken this action, I'd be ready to place money on the 'facts' being a tad different from what the family is claiming.

The telling thing is the fact it took this woman THREE HOURS to die after the power was cut off. I'm pretty sure that unless she lived in the back blocks (and it doesn't sound like she did), it would take a much shorter time for the ambulance to reach her. Or the family - of which some were obviously home - could have rushed her there or taken her to a neighbour's.

Some people have varying priorities and I'm afraid that if my life depended on a constant power supply, I'd pay my bloody power bill!

[terbang]

Jeez Lias I just Googled yer signature:
Liberalism is an essentially infantile, submissive world view. It is the world view of men who do not have the moral toughness, the spiritual strength to stand up and do single combat with life, who cannot adjust to the reality that the world is not a huge, pink-and-blue, padded nursery in which the lions lie down with the lambs and everyone lives happily ever after Its not even an origional and is word for word here:Turner Diaries (http://www.skrewdriver.net/turner6.html) written by:
Dr. William Luther Pierce III[1] (September 11, 1933 – July 23, 2002) was the leader of the white separatist National Alliance organization, and a principal ideologue of the white nationalist movement. He later worked with George Lincoln Rockwell, the founder of the American Nazi Party.

My old man and many other Kiwis went to war against these ideals and others.
I truly hope you are only taking the piss..?

[Mr. Peanut]

An unfortunate circumstance. I don't see the point in jumping up and down about it though.

Fucking media feeding frenzy if you ask me, nice to see politicians jumping on the gravy train too.

"Mr Sheehan said after the machine went off Mrs Muliaga had become faint, had difficulty breathing, and complained of headaches and being unable to see, before collapsing."

If she had time to say that, how about calling an ambulance Mr Sheehan?

[Beemer]

"Mr Sheehan said after the machine went off Mrs Muliaga had become faint, had difficulty breathing, and complained of headaches and being unable to see, before collapsing."

If she had time to say that, how about calling an ambulance Mr Sheehan?

I emailed Close Up but they didn't refer to my comments - bet they won't tomorrow either as I basically said what you did. If she had collapsed and died within minutes, you could understand the outcry, but she was alive for THREE HOURS - surely enough time for her family to seek help.

Those contractors get given all sorts of sob stories and unfortunately they are paid to do a job, not get involved in the politics. Most power companies require a doctor's certificate before they will believe you and even her doctors are saying they gave her the oxygen as a back up, not for 24-hour use.

[Hitcher]

I am beginning to feel that the two events were little more than an unfortunate coincidence, rather than cause and effect. But there is faint hope of explaining that to the professionally indignant who are baying for the head of John The Baptist on a plate because they see political mileage in that.

[oldrider]

If you can be prosecuted for dangerous driving, you should be able to be prosecuted for dangerous writing or reporting!

Doesn't personal responsibility exist in New Zealand any more? :nono: John.

[Steam]

If you can be prosecuted for dangerous driving, you should be able to be prosecuted for dangerous writing or reporting!


Yeah, we need to have less free speech, we can't have people saying things that aren't certified by some higher authority as being guaranteed true.

[oldrider]

Yeah, we need to have less free speech, we can't have people saying things that aren't certified by some higher authority as being guaranteed true.

Quite agree with your inference but with freedom comes responsibility and consequence of action. :mellow: John.

[MD]

Good to see the Hospital spokesperson pointing out that the machine was not a life support or life saving machine - it was for providing temporary assistance with breathing, as Hitcher said, not intended for 24/7 use. It seems there was an underlying serious medical issue behind the media smokescreen.
The media take on this is pissing me off.

At the risk of sounding like a heartless bastard and racist, this family have been here 6 years and I wonder how much they have drained from our health system in that time and will do over their unhealthy lives. The family and especially the kids were at the upper end of obesity, even by island standards. Gosh, I wonder why they have health problems? Double gosh, I wonder who will pay for the treatment?

[Babelfish]

two words: "natural selection"

How sad that a a family is raised t such a degree of robotic support that none of them could proactively defend their household within a modern society. Apparently able to converse freely with the television cameras, they had obviously undertaken a days intense lesson in english as such communication was seemingly impossible for either the last seven weeks dealing with the power company, or talking to the miriad of relatives that could have plugged mummy in.

Ok, a bit harsh but to a degree this is backlash to a pathetic media frenzy yet again stirring up mayhem soup from megre ingredients. I do feel for a family that has lost their mother, and how much the must be looking for someone to blame, but they have nobody but themselves.

If anyone thinks that you no longer have to struggle to survive in this world, here's an example of what happens when you think you no longer have to work toward doing so.

[LilSel]

Its hard on the employess of the SOE too... Abuse galore :shit:

[terbang]

Gosh, I wonder why they have health problems? Double gosh, I wonder who will pay for the treatment?

Gosh I guess that just like you and I they, being working people, would have also paid TAX in the last 6 years. Get the point..?

Take a long hard look at yerself in the mirror and ask yourself: Would I be spitting the same Xenophobic vitriol if it had been someone in my own family. Unless you are Maiori, then you also cannot deny your own immigrant roots. Seems some have forgotten that.
Sheesh, listing to all the bigoted, and in some cases white supremest attitudes dressed up as 'sounds a bit harsh' here makes me feel a bit ashamed to use the term Kiwi...

[Lias]

Jeez Lias I just Googled yer signature: Its not even an origional and is word for word here:Turner Diaries (http://www.skrewdriver.net/turner6.html) written by:

I know where it comes from (Gee I can google too!).. I still like the quote.


My old man and many other Kiwis went to war against these ideals and others.
I truly hope you are only taking the piss..?

Both my grandfathers fought in WW2, and my foster father fought in malay and vietnam. They put their lives on the line for the right of both of us to have differing opinions.


Gosh I guess that just like you and I they, being working people, would have also paid TAX in the last 6 years. Get the point..?

Take a long hard look at yerself in the mirror and ask yourself: Would I be spitting the same Xenophobic vitriol if it had been someone in my own family. Unless you are Maiori, then you also cannot deny your own immigrant roots. Seems some have forgotten that.
Sheesh...

Even maori are immigrants, surely you know the story of the hawaiki and the 7 great waka? My personal opinion (which I'm fairly sure you will disagree with) is that recent immigrants should arrive in NZ speaking proper english, with enough money to support themselves, and should get no subsidised services (such as healthcare) for 5-10 years after they obtain citizenship.

You talk of us taking a look in the mirror, can you honestly say that you would ever let your families power bill be so overdue it was disconnected? I know I've lived on the bones of my arse at times yet I've never had my power cut off. If I had a relative who needed power for their health I'd be even more vigilant.

Few other things I'll comment on as well. The family (excepting the father) were all extremely obese. Seems like the family could afford to eat well but not pay the power. They were also talking about "compensation" with 24 hours of their mothers death. That makes me doubt their story and motives even more. If your mothers just died normal peopel dont start asking for a payout right away!

[terbang]

Both my grandfathers fought in WW2, and my foster father fought in malay and vietnam.



Which side were they on..?

[Lias]

Which side were they on..?
All 3 served in the NZ Armed Forces :innocent:

[SimJen]

the family watched her die for 2 hours.....they said so themselves.
The son said he wanted to call an ambulance but the mother wouldn't let him.
Stupid bastards, if it was my mother I would have got the ambulance within 10 minutes no matter what she said......
Media is taking the wrong end of the story as usual.
Media bullshit.

[LilSel]

'Trade unionists and community activists will picket outside Mercury Energy';s headquarters this afternoon, following Mrs Muliaga's case. '

Oh great... I guess that means we're on lockdown again... No ciggie breaks for me today!! :mellow:

[Lias]

'Trade unionists and community activists will picket outside Mercury Energy';s headquarters this afternoon, following Mrs Muliaga's case. '

Oh great... I guess that means we're on lockdown again... No ciggie breaks for me today!! :mellow:

Dontcha wish the cops would turn up with the long batons?

[LilSel]

Dontcha wish the cops would turn up with the long batons?

Cant comment. :mellow:

Hey this reminds of when I was with Progressive a few years ago n protesters turned nasty n we had to lock the store up...

[MisterD]

'Trade unionists and community activists will picket outside Mercury Energy';s headquarters this afternoon, following Mrs Muliaga's case. '

Oh great... I guess that means we're on lockdown again... No ciggie breaks for me today!! :mellow:

It passed me by yesterday that this Sheehan fella is a bloody trade unionist, making political capital out of your own family's misfortunte :nono:

Oh well, you'll be able to practice for when Harawira's promised bill makes the sale of tobacco illegal...

[LilSel]

Oh well, you'll be able to practice for when Harawira's promised bill makes the sale of tobacco illegal...


?????? lol... practice for what exactly? protest?... pfft... I dont have time for that kinda stuff

[MisterD]

?????? lol... practice for what exactly? protest?... pfft... I dont have time for that kinda stuff

No, just practice not smoking...

[LilSel]

No, just practice not smoking...

Oh gotcha lol... :rockon:

[Paul in NZ]

People die of stupidity every day!

[Kickaha]

People die of stupidity every day!

Yes they do, however it is "always someone elses fault" don't forget personal responsibility for your actions seems to be a thing of the past

[Paul in NZ]

Yes they do, however it is "always someone elses fault" don't forget personal responsibility for your actions seems to be a thing of the past

Yup! There were so many chances to save this persons life it seems. Funny how no excuse is good enough for the power companies actions but the weak excuses the family are making are fine. She was too heavy to be carried (um she was walking around earlier or how about running a bloody extension cord in from next door ffs), none of the boys knew CPR (um - she was a very sick unit, didn't they have ANY action plan or social responsibility?), Dad always relied on her to pay the bills (time to man up mate) etc etc....

Sorry - I'm a softy and I feel for their loss but there has been massive amounts of $$ spent getting the message about the dangers of obesity across to a certain sector and if they choose to do nothing, well its a bit like the repeat drink drivers isn't it... Yeah sure - lets HAVE a law for corporate manslaughter and lets also have a law where we the people can ask for compensation when people deliberately ignore sound advice and cost us all a fortune...

Paul N

jeepers - can't believe I'm getting worked up about this....

[R6_kid]

Thanks to the NZ media, and the stupidity of a number of NZer's electrical power supply contractors all over the country are getting shit about killing people...

I have heard numerous stories today from our emergency dispatch office about death threats, abusive phone calls and people causing trouble with workers operating on the lines.

It has got to the point that the contracting company that was responsible for actually disconnecting the power has had to remove the sign-writing from their vehicles to protect its workers. FFS they were just doing their job.

Even the guys at the company i work for (which is in no way connected to this event) have been getting shit all day today.

When are people going to wake up and understand not to make assumptions until you know the full story.

[MD]

Gosh I guess that just like you and I they, being working people, would have also paid TAX in the last 6 years. Get the point..?

Take a long hard look at yerself in the mirror and ask yourself: Would I be spitting the same Xenophobic vitriol if it had been someone in my own family. ...
Let me clarify my comment about being a burden on the health system and being overweight.
Irrespective of what race, immigrant or not, relative of mine or not, I object to anyone expecting others to pay to fix their long term self inflicted health problems when they wont take any steps to help themselves. I have no sympathy for long term heavy smokers dying of lung cancer or obese people suffering from diabetes and all the other consequences of obesity, that eventually will end their life prematurely.
You could try the argument that if a biker crashes then ACC & hospitals come to our aid. That's an accident and not the same. And we are levied more rego to cover the costs by the way. We don't ride knowing it will absolutely, without a doubt, end in a crash. If I knew that going for a ride tomorrow was certain to end in a crash I wouldn't ride would I, or I would take steps to avoid the crash.
Let me take a look in the mirror. Blood pressure, cholesterol, body mass - spot on so the Doc says. Non smoker, low to moderate drinker (these days), plenty of exercise all my life with private health insurance. Yep I'm a real burden on the system I am.
I see more relatives were on the telly tonight. This family excel at obesity. Are they oblivious to the harm they are doing to themselves?
What really annoyed me was the Samoan Govt demanding an explanation (TV1 News). I've a question for them. What the hell sort of health care were they offering these people when they lived in Samoa? Besides a plane ticket to NZ. Sweet bugger all I bet but that's acceptable because their economy can't provided expensive breathing machines in homes. But don't insult us with arrogant demands when we DO provide such a machine here and something goes wrong in one instance.
If I picked on a fat whitey smoker would you object...Who's the racist then.

[Mom]

Sorry - I'm a softy and I feel for their loss but...
jeepers - can't believe I'm getting worked up about this....


Dont feel bad about that mate!! Getting worked up I mean.

I will join you in the, I feel sad for their loss sentiment, but I am really starting to get worked up too. Not to do with the obesity thing, not the unpaid power bill thing, not the turned off power thing, not the they said/we said thing, not the family sat in the dark thing after this woman died thing, not the ... anything really.

What has got me so worked up is the fact that surely no hospital would send someone home, totally reliant (read, will die if it is turned off) on a machine to provide oxygen, that required power 24/7 without a back up power source available, last I heard there was a thing called batteries available at a pinch, or if there was a fault an emergency number to ring, failing that 111. Shit I pay my bills and we suffered a couple of candle lighting power outs this week, I lost a really good post on KB as a result too...:dodge:

I think that this poor family has lost their Mom, their wife, their everything..........and they are angry. Perhaps ignorant of the systems that are in place to help them out, and too proud to admit that the Mom they lost understood things a bit better than they did.

The contractor was doing his job, the authority would have come via a fax or phone call, "disconnect the power at this address".
The power company would have issued the appropriate notices to the customer?
The customer would have known the power was about to be disconnected.
The family knew that Mom needed that power supply, if in fact the oxygen machine relied on it....
The whole thing gets me wored up!

[LilSel]

electrical power supply contractors all over the country are getting shit about killing people...

death threats, abusive phone calls and people causing trouble with workers operating on the lines.

It has got to the point that the contracting company that was responsible for actually disconnecting the power has had to remove the sign-writing from their vehicles to protect its workers. FFS they were just doing their job.


:angry: Its all true... It has cascaded into... a... mess...

I work for MRP-Mercury Energy...The last few days have been VERY hard on all of us.... There has been abuse... threats...
It is frightening!

TAKE A LOOK @ THE PIC IN THIS POST....(from the herald) TAKENOUTSIDE MY WORK TONIGHT.... not cool!!
(couldnt save pic so had to hypersnap it..)

Going home after an honest days hard work... to encounter this?...

[shcabbeh]

And could somebody please give Sue Bradford a slap.

I'm with ya there.

I think she drafted that bill to stop people from doing that.

[NighthawkNZ]

I still want to know why the ambulance wasn't called.... i doesn't take 3hrs to ring 111... does it :scratch:

[Mrs Busa Pete]

I havn't read all this thread but my question is Why did the family not ring for an ambulance instead of waiting a couple of hours for her to die. She did not need to die call me a cynic but they are after compensation. They seen an easy way out for this lady who was only going to get worse and make some money at the same time.

Not taking away what the power company has done BUT



Note to self give up smoking


ops didn't see above post

[Edbear]

I havn't read all this thread but my question is Why did the family not ring for an ambulance instead of waiting a couple of hours for her to die. She did not need to die call me a cynic but they are after compensation. They seen an easy way out for this lady who was only going to get worse and make some money at the same time.

Not taking away what the power company has done BUT



Note to self give up smoking


ops didn't see above post


I agree, there are always two sides, but infortunately, and VERY significantly, society has "progressed" to where mob-mentality erupts as many don't bother to get the facts before forming the lynch mob! As legend has it, while they were stringing the fellow up the mob leader said, "If I'm wrong I'll apologise!" Notice how those who said they were waiting to get all the facts from all sides before taking any action were criticised, such as the Minister and the Manager of Mercury? A sad but all too typical and common occurance these days.:bye:

I also agree, you should quit smoking, it'll probably be about the hardest thing you'll ever do, but once you do, you'll be on top of the world! People I know who've achieved it are euphoric and can't believe it took them so long to make the decision!:yes:

Nice bike, too....:innocent:

[ajturbo]

good to see that they have enough money to pay the lawyer...

[Maha]

I still want to know why the ambulance wasn't called.... i doesn't take 3hrs to ring 111... does it :scratch:

I read in the Herald yesterday that the Mother said No....so they sung Hymns....:yes:

[NighthawkNZ]

I read in the Herald yesterday that the Mother said No....so they sung Hymns....:yes:

So obviously the family didn't really care then huh.

[James Deuce]

Based on personal experience of caring for someone on O2 in the home, I have some questions:

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showpost.php?p=1078705&postcount=25

[Paul in NZ]

So obviously the family didn't really care then huh.

Its worse than that IMHO...

Its an evil that could destroy us all. Evil is not just doing bad things, hell we all do bad or inappropriate things at times but they become evil when we fail to acknowledge our action OR transfer the responsibility for the events to others.

I said earlier that stupidity killed this woman - I stand by that. Ignorance will kill you in the mountains, it will kill you on a motorcycle, it will kill you crossing a desert and it will kill you in the suburbs.

The evil is not recognising an error and wholesale transferring of the guilt to others. ALL to common... Its not my fault mate - they never told me, I didn't understand, he told me he loved me, hes a nice guy when hes sober, I didn't know it was loaded....

Edit

Helen Clarkes latest statement could be considered evil... Blaming one agency without considering if all other govt agencies should have acted better in this case. transference of blame = evil...

[roogazza]

Ambulance or Pizza ??????? hard choice ! G.

[Hitcher]

I also feel sorry for the contractor responsible for pulling the plug, as it were. I imagine that those guys hear every possible excuse under the sun for why they shouldn't cut people's power off: "I've got a roast in the oven", "I need to do my Internet banking", "The cheque's in the post", "My mother's on a nebuliser"...

Yeah, right.

[SpankMe]

I say if ya want to find out why the bill wasn't paid, go donate a few hundred dallors to the family, then stake out the local pokies. :dodge:

[chris]

totally reliant (read, will die if it is turned off) on a machine to provide oxygen, that required power 24/7 without a back up power source available,
The machine wasn't a life support system. This (http://www.nzherald.co.nz/feature/story.cfm?c_id=1501212&objectid=10442844) seems to have been ignored by the rent-a-protestor.

[MisterD]

More useful information courtesy of Michael Laws, the lone voice in NZ media talking sense about this subject....I can't relay accurately the medical terminology for the condition that required the woman to use the oxygen machine but it translates as Too Fat to Breathe Properly

[MSTRS]

Check out my siggy....says it all, really.

[SpankMe]

More useful information courtesy of Michael Laws, the lone voice in NZ media talking sense about this subject....I can't relay accurately the medical terminology for the condition that required the woman to use the oxygen machine but it translates as Too Fat to Breathe Properly

Yep, thats probably where all the money went, feeding her & her fat family. Poor people are skinny. That lot look too well feed to be poor.

[oldrider]

Have you heard the latest joke circulating the world?..........It's... "New Zealand"! :nono:

[James Deuce]

Have you heard the latest joke circulating the world?..........It's... "New Zealand"! :nono:

I wouldn't worry about that too much. It is quite customary for those in the US without medical insurance to die the same way with no comment necessary. The fact that this is causing comment in NZ shows that our under-funded and under-staffed medical system may just be a bit better than most people think it is.

Never forget oldrider: the rest of the world barely knows about NZ, and could care less. If it isn't a sheep joke, they don't care.

[Sollyboy]

They should blame KFC and McDonalds as much as the power company for her death ,she looked like she was on borrowed time anyway, imagine the hospital resources now freed up and not being wasted on her .
If that was my family member and the power company came round I would have phisically stopped them , if that was unavoidable I would have put a few leads together and sourced power from a neighbour , anything but sit there and do nothing anyway, so the whole thing has my bullshit meter going off the scale

[MadDuck]

Police are "investigating" at this stage which doesnt mean that they are charging someone. It is standard procedure for Police to attend all Sudden Deaths unless a Doctor is willing to sign of a cause of death which wouldnt happen in this case due to the publicity and unusual circumstances of her death.

Well I for one am sick of having my tax money spent in the wrong areas. They didnt pay the bill and if it was me they would have cut my power off too and deservedly so. We know our responsibilities in life. Its not as if it was thousands of dollars. They would have received notices of disconnection.

They will investigate and come up with a politically correct result because Ms Clarke has made a stupid announcement. Meanwhile I fall off my bike and cant get seen by a doctor for 30 hours....go figure!

[Brett]

Pay the bloody bill and then all will be well. The key thing is that she died 2 hours later. The family could have taken her to a neighbours to plug the machine in, could have driven her somewhere, taken a bus, called an ambo...there were many other options. Blaming the power company is a damn cop out. i appreciate that things are hard for people at times, but hell, there were other options available. It was there own fault for not acting AT ANY POINT. If they knew their mum/wife was dependant on the oxygen, then they should have done somethingother than sing to her. PAY THE BILLS AND DON'T BLAME OTHERS.

[Beemer]

I still can't see how the hell turning the power off can result in someone's death THREE hours later. It's not like she died within minutes, which is what would have happened if she truly was reliant on oxygen to live.

I see they are a religious family - what's the bet they tithe a portion of their income to the church. Surely the church could have stepped in and helped out, or their extended family. Or are they only able to beat their chests about the injustice of it all and call for heads to roll?

Looking at the rest of the family, in particular the lead guitarist and his sister, it will not be long before one of them drops dead from an obesity-induced heart attack. But the sad thing is, even if an autopsy proves she died of something other than oxygen deprivation, it will STILL be Mercury's fault in their eyes and the eyes of every other stupid fucking moron in NZ. I'm ashamed to be a journalist and bloody glad my last article was in a trucking magazine and not a newspaper!

At least they've still got their music. Wonder if she had any requests - like 'The Air That I Breathe', or 'Slipping Away From Me', or even my favourite, 'Another One Bites The Dust'. Maybe 'Love Is Like Oxygen' - yes, that's why the family sat and watched her die - they LOVED her!

[kerfufflez]

IAt least they've still got their music. Wonder if she had any requests - like 'The Air That I Breathe', or 'Slipping Away From Me', or even my favourite, 'Another One Bites The Dust'. Maybe 'Love Is Like Oxygen' - yes, that's why the family sat and watched her die - they LOVED her!

Anything by Air Supply was a favourite.

[Thomas]

Anything by Air Supply was a favourite.

What about The Power of Love? Or something by ELO?

[Beemer]

Or Sting and 'Every Breath You Take'? And what about that NZ band the La Di Dahs (or you could spell it The Lardy Arses in this case) and their song "How Is The Air Up There?"

[devnull]

They should cut power to most of South Auckland, that would sort out half our fucken crime problems and most of the burden on our medical system, and maybe those cunts will stop assaulting Ambo's when we go to help them. How much electricity in a hut in Samoa?

Hehe... I'd agree with that. I worked from Howick station, then Tamaki when it was first built (I'm showing my age) :rockon:

[DEATH_INC.]

Well I for one am sick of having my tax money spent in the wrong areas. They didnt pay the bill and if it was me they would have cut my power off too and deservedly so. We know our responsibilities in life. Its not as if it was thousands of dollars. They would have received notices of disconnection.

They will investigate and come up with a politically correct result because Ms Clarke has made a stupid announcement. Meanwhile I fall off my bike and cant get seen by a doctor for 30 hours....go figure!
I've got no sympathy for 'em. I gotta pay, you gotta pay, they gotta pay. PAY YOUR FARKIN BILLS....no problems....

Have you heard the latest joke circulating the world?..........It's... "New Zealand"!
Thats not new, it's been a joke for years...

[LilSel]

From herald 'Their apology yesterday, with fine mats and a $10,000 cheque for the funeral, would have gone some way to assuaging the hurt.'

There goes my bonus!!! :dodge: 10k...?!

[Grahameeboy]

Agree with all that is said.......an unnecessary death which could have been avoided.................just like a biker who rides too fast, ignores the obvious signs..........but posts say RIP, Condolences to Family or ............................

Whatever these guys did wrong let her RIP.....................

[Grahameeboy]

I've got no sympathy for 'em. I gotta pay, you gotta pay, they gotta pay. PAY YOUR FARKIN BILLS....no problems....

Thats not new, it's been a joke for years...

Well all I can say is that NZ is a good joke............doesn't say much for the rest of the world

[Skyryder]

From herald 'Their apology yesterday, with fine mats and a $10,000 cheque for the funeral, would have gone some way to assuaging the hurt.'

There goes my bonus!!! :dodge: 10k...?!

Or Mercury's guilt. I'm going to give Mercury the benifit of the doubt on this. I think they are generaly trying to lesson the tradgedy. I'd would like to think that their condolences to the family are genuine and not some PR.



I'm not as forgiving to Helen Clark on this. She was one of the Labour's major proponets of Rodgernomics and for her to come out and say Mercury Energy had a "hard-nosed commercial attitude and, frankly, I don't want to be responsible for a state-owned enterprise that makes money out of misery".
I find a little more than galling.

Having said that it appears that the family had until early June to pay the final installment of the debt. I can not help but wonder what was going on behind the scenes with this but after reading many of the comments about the family in this thread it does not take a rocket scientist to work that out.

Have a happy QB weekend guys.

Skyryder

[avgas]

Mercury Energy.....
.......eliminating one stupid person at a time.

Also a friend of mine said that they have a WRX parked in the drive too!

[Flatcap]

Also a friend of mine said that they have a WRX parked in the drive too!

...Perhaps they should have connected the oxygen pump to the turbo...

[avgas]

"hard-nosed commercial attitude and, frankly, I don't want to be responsible for a state-owned enterprise that makes money out of misery"
She obviously doesnt know what the government does.
HA
Studylink, IRD etc
On another note, is Mercury energy the last little chunk of ECNZ that the govt held on to? (genuine question)

[avgas]

...Perhaps they should have connected the oxygen pump to the turbo...
or the exhaust - depending on the families attitude at the time.
If i got a call from my dad/sister saying they were in trouble - I would drop everything, and cover the 200+K distance (as quick as possible - stuff the law in that situation).....just to make sure they were ok.
Not wait until i finished work and then pondered what to do.

[Flatcap]

If i got a call from my dad/sister saying they were in trouble - I would drop everything, and cover the 200+K distance (as quick as possible - stuff the law in that situation).....just to make sure they were ok.
Not wait until i finished work and then pondered what to do.

Exactly.

If Nana's wheelchair got stuck in a pot hole while crossing the road, you would give her a push, not expect the traffic to swerve around her.

[Dave Lobster]

Also a friend of mine said that they have a WRX parked in the drive too!

I thought that was compulsory for an (allegedly) underprivaledged family..

And, the poorer you are, the bigger the bean can welded onto the back of the exhaust.

I may be wrong.. but it looks like it from the state of the people you see/hear driving them.

[oldrider]

On another note, is Mercury energy the last little chunk of ECNZ that the govt held on to? (genuine question)

NZED was made up of the following:
TransPower
Genesis
Mighty River
Meridian
Contact

Only Contact has been privatised. (Sold)

Trustpower was made up from existing power board companies generation facilities and their energy divisions following the split between lines and energy functions.

Following deregulation (not privatisation) the Government soaked up all the independent local power boards (energy divisions) by way of purchase.

This just left the old local power board line sections as monopoly carriers of the electricity to the consumer. (the line charges on your bill)

Trustpower was formed by some of the larger power boards who had their own generation plants prior to deregulation and who were big enough to survive, they also kept their own retail sections but sold their lines divisions.

The government now own and control much more of the New Zealand power system than they ever had control of "prior" to deregulation, so those who want to return to "State control" of the power system really don't have a clue of what they are talking about.

I hope that helps you to understand, Mercury was never part of NZED, the government gained control of it following "deregulation".

Southland Electric Power Authority was a strange kind of subsidiary of NZED but I can not remember the details of that set up now some one else may remember.

NZED was not Privatised, that is just a bit of brainwashing to bullshit the New Zealand public that it was, the government just ended up with a massive increase in control of the power industry. :shit:

Hope this helps. Cheers John.

[Skyryder]

I acknowledge your expetise on this issue OR. The problem with distingishing the difference between privatisation and deregulation is that not very many Kiwis take an active interest in such matters. They make little distinction between the two. There are a number of reasons for this but to me the most obvious is that both have CEO's whereas prior to deregulataion/privatisation the Minister was responsable. Now they hide behind the CEO of the SOE or in the case of the spying issue do not appear to take much notice of the Minister.

Without getting into the relative merits of deregulation/privatisation v control/regulation I think what has come to my attention in both the spy issue and the Mercury Energy debacle is that no-ones in charge, no correction, there appears to be one person in charge and neither can agree who that may be; the CEO or the Minister. I believe that therein lies the core to many of New Zealands problems.

Skyryder

[Lias]

Personally I'm going to boycott Mercury & Mighty River power for apologising and giving the family 10grand. Spineless fucking cowards should have stood their ground and refused to apologise and refused to give them a cent. Absolutely disgusted they caved in.

I really want to goto the funeral with a loudhailer and chant "Pay your fucking bills" or something to show how pissed off I am.

[oldrider]

Personally I'm going to boycott Mercury & Mighty River power for apologising and giving the family 10grand. Spineless fucking cowards should have stood their ground and refused to apologise and refused to give them a cent. Absolutely disgusted they caved in.

I really want to goto the funeral with a loudhailer and chant "Pay your fucking bills" or something to show how pissed off I am.

I agree with Lias on that and I suspect that it was as a result of political pressure from Clark and cohorts!

All they had to do was call 111 and a bloody ambulance!

Bloody wankers, that loud mouthed union rep relative could have paid the bill himself but that would not be of any value to his political aspirations would it.

So now no more Islanders will have to pay for their electricity on time, if ever and then look forward to a cheque for $10,000 if they think their feelings are hurt.

This country is driving nuts with all the left wing PC bullshit that gets chucked around. :nono: Pissed off, John.

[Delerium]

my bad, smart ass comment had already been made.

[Delerium]

I thought that was compulsory for an (allegedly) underprivaledged family..

And, the poorer you are, the bigger the bean can welded onto the back of the exhaust.

I may be wrong.. but it looks like it from the state of the people you see/hear driving them.

Have a drive through the poor parts of south auckland and see how many houses have a sky dish on them. row after row. I want a high paid job for doing sweet fa and I want it to come to my door and offer itself to me because im too lazy selfish and useless to go and look for one because that would take effort. Why do some of these people on benefits get paid more than me. I bust my ass to EARN my money, pay my bills and buy things I want. Then one of these asshats thinks he likes my things more than I do.

Its piss poor they gave them a handout, and sets a dangerous precedent. They USED the power, they need to pay for that service. They had plenty of opportunity before and duing the event to correct it. Mismanagement of their financial position isnt a reason for the power company to be put out of pocket. It appears the family didnt even ATTEMPT to sort the situation. There is no way that I will ever receive this lenancy because I beleive in paying your way and working to get ahead. I dont live like a sloth and care about the things I buy. People like this family have borowed items of mine in the past and the treat it like their own... with no respect.

Walk around the 'badlands' of poor socio economic areas... the properties are poorly maintained and the neighbourhoods are filthy... they DONT care.

[terbang]

This thread has just spiralled into nothing more than a racist hatred and xenophobic feeding frenzy based on scant fact. Listen to you all, jeez history reminds us that you will all be stuffing immigrants into gas chambers shortly. Shame on you all. Get the facts guys, these are also people you are talking about here, not animals. This is not what KB is about. Bah...

[oldrider]

I acknowledge your expetise on this issue OR. The problem with distingishing the difference between privatisation and deregulation is that not very many Kiwis take an active interest in such matters. They make little distinction between the two. There are a number of reasons for this but to me the most obvious is that both have CEO's whereas prior to deregulataion/privatisation the Minister was responsable. Now they hide behind the CEO of the SOE or in the case of the spying issue do not appear to take much notice of the Minister.

Without getting into the relative merits of deregulation/privatisation v control/regulation I think what has come to my attention in both the spy issue and the Mercury Energy debacle is that no-ones in charge, no correction, there appears to be one person in charge and neither can agree who that may be; the CEO or the Minister. I believe that therein lies the core to many of New Zealands problems.

Skyryder

Sorry Skyryder, I dissagree.

The family individuals were in control, the power went off, "they" had time and authority to act in their "own" best interest and they failed to provide the necessaries of life for their Mother!

They didn't even attempt to save her, they just sat around and watched her die, just like the Kahui family did with those twins.

Whether Mercury should or should not, turn off supply to it's debtors, is a separate issue altogether!

That's what is wrong with our society, all the issues are emotionally clumped together to gain the best sensational / political impact, regardless of the facts or the consequences.

God help our grandchildren, if this behaviour continues unchecked! :nono: John.

[Delerium]

This thread has just spiralled into nothing more than a racist hatred and xenophobic feeding frenzy based on scant fact. Listen to you all, jeez history reminds us that you will all be stuffing immigrants into gas chambers shortly. Shame on you all. Get the facts guys, these are also people you are talking about here, not animals. This is not what KB is about. Bah...

Such as? I do think that the social problems of the darker skinned peoples compared to the more pale of us is A whole different topic.

[terbang]

They didn't even attempt to save her, they just sat around and watched her die, just like the Kahui family did with those twins.
John.


Surely you don't really believe that, she was their mother for fucks sake., Stand back, take a long breath and look at what you just said. Sick Polynesian woman dies and now its the same as the kahui twins. Have some respect for a WORKING immigrant family that have just lost a family member in a very public way...

[terbang]

Many of these posts have not mentioned racism at all. But, some ae boardering on it.

Maybe not mentioned but all I see here is racism.

[Delerium]

But is it a case of anger at a family that happen to be of a certain ethnicity o anger at a certain ethnicity and using what has happened as an excuse?

[Lias]

Maybe not mentioned but all I see here is racism.

I cant speak for everyone but if the family had been european I'd still be just as pissed off. That being said if the family was european I very much doubt we'd see as much of a media and political spotlight on it. "Big evil corporation picking on poor brown immigrants" makes much better headlines than "Power company doing its job cuts power to 4th generation kiwis".

[oldrider]

Surely you don't really believe that, she was their mother for fucks sake., Stand back, take a long breath and look at what you just said. Sick Polynesian woman dies and now its the same as the kahui twins. Have some respect for a WORKING immigrant family that have just lost a family member in a very public way...

The principal and result is the same, they are both dead, they won't be back again.

Effective care was not given when it should have been.
If you can believe what was said on TV by the family members, it was not even attempted, I don't care what race, origins or creed, they had time to act and did nothing, now everyone else is to blame!

The public outcry was initiated by a self proclamed family member or there would have been none.

Suggest you follow your own advice. John.

[ynot slow]

as i've been away without net available,just logged on tonight,my humble opinion is why not go to pre pay power,pay as you go,simple.also in our local paper was a story about a lady with emphaseema and has similar machine,she has an oxygen cylinder as backup in case of power outage,also the air tubes which go into nasel passage,when they become disconnected or loose power go off with a loud bang,i know as when i was in icu and an old guy was next room to me his ventilater hose came off and he nearly(and me)shit ourslves from fright,my bet is this may have contributed to the cause of death,as well as a healthy diet of kfc,mcd,bk,seems the power co have given $10000 to family,nice gesture,i hope the mentioned fast food outlets enjoy the profits(joking),as for the polititians lambasting the power co and contractors,how many govt organisations have helped the family out with entitlements,working for families etc.

[McJim]

I cannot find any news reports on the results of the autopsy.

The coroner's findings should have been available some time yesterday afternoon. No mention has been made which suggests to me the findings leave Ms. Clark with egg on her face and that the cause of death was not related to the loss of electricity.

If someone can find a link to the results I would be really grateful - all I can find online is the same kneejerk reaction I have now come to expect from the New Zealand media.

[terbang]

Suggest you follow your own advice. John.

Oh I am John and I am waiting for all of the facts while I respectfully refrain from jumping to conclusions and publicly bagging a grieving family.

[Steelhorse]

cant help wondering why some one didnt take her to another family members house and plug her in just in case or go next door when she took a turn for the worse. I would force my family member to go.

[McJim]

Once again we have a thread that is polarising opinion - shame there is only the usual choice to line up on the 'Racist' and 'Non-racist' camps,

I myself choose to align myself with the 'factist' camp - those concerned only with the facts.

There have been under publicised interviews with staff at the hospital - I think I read thatsenior members of staff have advised that the machine in question was not vital to sustain life.

Much of the outrage seems based on a life support system being denied.

Legislation will change (in the usual kneejerk reaction/we want more votes but we still want to tax the arse off you way) in that people with life support equipment will be registered with the power suppliers and will have an uninterupted power supply.

Folole Muliaga would still have perished under such legislation since, allegedly, her doctors did not believe she needed this equipment for survival and would therefore not have registered her under such a scheme.

I think the loss of any life is a tragedy but I fail to see what benefit there is for demonising the power supplier. Any punitive damages will not be paid by the shareholders of the power company - the payments will come directly out of the pockets of the paying customers - you and me.

My thoughts are with the family at this time - being the centre of media focus when their grief is so raw cannot be easy. I have little doubt that her sons are partly blaming themselves without assistance from comments such as we have seen in this thread.

[terbang]

I think the loss of any life is a tragedy but I fail to see what benefit there is for demonising the power supplier.

I also fail to see the benefit of demonising an immigrant family as well.

[Delerium]

I find it frustrating that anybody that doesnt agree with the poor brown familes plight is accused of being racist. My closestfriend is rarotongan, but guess what... I still think excessive stupidity and laziness killed this woman and the power company should of told them to stick it when it came to compensation... just like they would of to me.

Somebody has died needlessly, nobody is denying that. But it wasnt the big bad power company dehumanizing its customers.

[oldrider]

Oh I am John and I am waiting for all of the facts while I respectfully refrain from jumping to conclusions and publicly bagging a grieving family.

I didn't jump to conclusions, I saw and heard them speaking on public television, themselves, telling their own version of events.

It doesn't wash to just blame the power company for cutting off the power, it could have failed from a number of non related causes.

Still I have to agree with you that the truth will out fully eventually but will we ever hear it?

You accuse me of publicly bagging a grieving family and I would accept that if it was not for the fact that a family "representative" was the first to take it to the public arena, therefore inviting us all to have an opinion!

My opinion is contrary to the one that he hoped to portray and I believe he did that for political and emotional blackmail of another party that he could affix blame for whatever purpose and it looks like he has been successful so far.

I admit to being a bit testy about this issue tonight, mainly because it is raining, my back hurts, I could not go to the Brass monkey and every thing I turn on, TV, Radio, KB, is full of this damn story and I believe on the evidence produced so far,(by themselves) that the immediate family present at the time failed to give the victim adequate support.

They may not have been able to save her but in their own words they didn't even "try".

All they did was, sit around blaming the bloody power company! John.

[Pathos]

I apologise for not reading the previous 9 pages but ...

In my opinion no one should be on a life critical device totally dependent on the stability of the mains grid and the control of a private corporation. Thats stupid.

There should be a UPS system in place which automatically sends emergency signals to the local emergency services on power loss.

No one should be in the position that their lives can be taken away from them if a employee in a power company accidentally presses the wrong button. I don't know how hard it is for someone to accidentally disconnect you but in this digital age probably not hard at all.

Power company screwed up but we should not be handing them the responsibility of making life / death decisions. They are there to sell power. If you need guaranteed power delivery organise it.

I'm not sure the family did all they could but the system is broken.

[Teflon]

good shit.. who really gives a fuck about them.

[BarBender]

I think there are some valid arguements based on what we've seen on the media. I dont know about racism but its the following generalisations and attempts at humour I reckon we could do without.


Yep, thats probably where all the money went, feeding her & her fat family. Poor people are skinny. That lot look too well feed to be poor.


They should cut power to most of South Auckland, that would sort out half our fucken crime problems and most of the burden on our medical system, and maybe those cunts will stop assaulting Ambo's when we go to help them. How much electricity in a hut in Samoa?


They should blame KFC and McDonalds as much as the power company for her death ,she looked like she was on borrowed time anyway, imagine the hospital resources now freed up and not being wasted on her. If that was my family member and the power company came round I would have phisically stopped them , if that was unavoidable I would have put a few leads together and sourced power from a neighbour , anything but sit there and do nothing anyway, so the whole thing has my bullshit meter going off the scale

I'm a NZ born Samoan and if that was my mother or close relative who died...I wouldnt give a shit who was at fault - My brothers and I would be looking for you guys at the next KB ride.
HOWEVER :innocent: More than anything examples of the above outbursts distort the arguements of those who have something valid to say...and even perhaps what you are trying to put across.
<O:p</O:p
Its not easy but hopefully we can ensure the 'integrity' of this thread is maintained and the real issues discussed.
<O:p</O:p<O:p</O:p

[Delerium]

Something like 50% of wealth is with the top 10% of the population. Unfortunately if this family was able to better manage their finances, or had more wealth to begin with, this situation would have been avoided. We live in a low wage economy so many people espescially in the main centres are struggling. To me this isnt a oh look at this, this is typical of this ethnic group... or oh look this is typical of white people in their offices to cut off the power and dehumanize the customers.

Its more to do with poor decision making and ones responsibilities. I criticize the families actions becuase with the infomation at hand, I see that they could have avoided this situation. what ethnicity they are well I couldnt care less.

I also criticize the lifestyle and financial management of some people that are in the areas of the lower economic spectrum. I dont earn much and I can struggle too, but it comes down to paying my dues before buying any toys. Hence why I still do not have a bike grrr.

And I do not think that making an open implied threat like that over an internet forum is the best way to deal with it. I can understand using a few harsh words to get your opinion across in no uncertain term (even if opinions are like a#%holes,everybody has one) but this does strike me as a little heavy. In saying that I do sort of have an understanding on how you feel. I wanted to deal to the pricks that broke into my car and flogged over a grand of gear. But its the actions that you actually take, not those you would like to do that define ones character.

I think Pathos raises some very valid points, but it msut be recognised that the device was not intended to be in permanent use and this is a key point. However hindsight is 20/20

[Beemer]

Personally I'm going to boycott Mercury & Mighty River power for apologising and giving the family 10grand. Spineless fucking cowards should have stood their ground and refused to apologise and refused to give them a cent. Absolutely disgusted they caved in.

I really want to goto the funeral with a loudhailer and chant "Pay your fucking bills" or something to show how pissed off I am.

I totally agree. Mercury had my sympathy until they started grovelling, obviously at the behest of Herr Clark.

As for being racist - is this how New Zealanders should be treating others, no matter what the circumstances - from Stuff today:

"With lava-lavas wrapped around their corporate suits, power company bosses endured a two-hour outdoor vigil as the family of Folole Muliaga grieved inside her Auckland home.

Coached in Samoan customs by members of their staff, Mighty River chairwoman Carole Durbin and chief executive Doug Heffernan and Mercury Energy general manager James Moulder went to Mangere yesterday afternoon to express their remorse.

But they were left standing outside for more than two hours before the family relented and invited them in.

Prime Minister Helen Clark arrived while they waited, but offered nothing more than a frosty look as she walked straight past them.

Once allowed inside, the group sat crossed-legged on mats spread across the living room floor, surrounded by family members.

The gifts they offered were put through a theatrical examination. Two women snatched up the mats and displayed them for all to see, then in mock contempt tossed them aside. Flowers and an envelope containing a cheque for $10,000 followed."

I bet the cheque wasn't treated with contempt and as soon as they left I bet they started singing again - "we're in the money". Helen Clark deserves a good slapping for her treatment of Mercury's bosses - but then the poor and the union supporters are her target market, so she's not going to do anything to upset them, is she.

Wearing lava-lavas? I'm sorry, but this is just ridiculous.

And for all of you out there calling those who are not on the family's side racist, take a long hard look at yourselves before making comments like that. If this family were European, Chinese, Indian, English, Yanks, etc, I would be making exactly the same statements. The only difference is, most of those ethnicities would have sought help for their mother if they thought for a minute she was in danger of dying. And I am sorry, but I am not going to apologise for stating the obvious, that most of the family members are obese and need to start taking care of their health if they don't want to meet the same fate as their mother.

Blaming the power company for a death that occurred THREE hours after the power was switched off, during which time NO attempts were made to help this woman, is morally wrong. If my family couldn't afford to pay the power bill, I'd get a part-time job to help out. At least two of the kids were old enough to do this. And her doctors have publictly stated the oxygen was NOT a life support system so I do not accept that turning the power off in any way resulted in her death.

I just hope the autopsy results show she died from cardiac arrest or pneumonia, brought on by gross obesity. Which can happen if you are black, white or yellow, and is not your power company's fault.

[oldrider]

Emotions aside:

Ethnicity has nothing to do with this, a New Zealand citizen died and a family member referred it to the public media circus arena.

It is now a New Zealand situation being discussed by members of this Internet forum that has far reaching boundaries.

So many men, so many opinions!

People here just comment as they see it on what they have gleaned from what the family, through the media, presents to them.

The family can't now pick and choose what they will allow us to read, view and comment on just to suit their own objectives.

Freedom of speech is still legal in this country as long as it is within the bounds of the current laws.

WE have expressed our views of what that family has told us occurred when their mother died.

They did not ask for our respect, in the end they will, or will not, have earned that! John.

[BarBender]

And I do not think that making an open implied threat like that over an internet forum is the best way to deal with it. I can understand using a few harsh words to get your opinion across in no uncertain term (even if opinions are like a#%holes,everybody has one) but this does strike me as a little heavy.

Are you referring to me??
If you are - you come across patronising.
Secondly - 'actions that you actually take define ones character??" This aint Batman motherfarker! :sick:
Finally - I dont give a flying fuck how it strikes you.

I dont make threats. Its a fact. If someone were getting their giggles off a member of my family who had died - Id be on them!
My key point was that this forum sometimes forgets two important things:
1. How small this country really is
2. The line between respect and disrespect
What - only friends and family who have kinfold die in motorcycle accidents get privileges in here?

Go talk to your Raro friend and see if he or she can help you understand what we're on about here.

If your quote doesnt refer to me - Well then - happy to buy you a beer.

[shcabbeh]

Well, as a lot of people have recently speculated...this just in:

"The obesity-related heart and lung disease which was killing Folole Muliaga, 44, was being kept at bay by a cocktail of powerful medication - not the electricity-powered machine which helped her breathe."

Taken from: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10443390

A point of interest. This story is suddenly and magically a lower news item rather than dominating the main story on The Herald.

Oh shit, our journalism supporting the family doesn't seem so hot anymore?

Another thing, it turns out that lady was using bullshit, unproven alternative medicine instead of conventional methods.

Nice job. Good quick 10k for the family though, huh?

[Grahameeboy]

I agree with you Barbender.....this has turned into a racist attack (by some) using culture as an argument..............

[Kickaha]

I just hope the autopsy results show she died from cardiac arrest or pneumonia, brought on by gross obesity.

If it does I'd be willing to bet we wouldn't hear about it, no apologies to the power company would be forthcoming and no money would be refunded to them.
(not that I'm in anyway cynical)

[Delerium]

Are you referring to me??
If you are - you come across patronising.
Secondly - 'actions that you actually take define ones character??" This aint Batman motherfarker! :sick:
Finally - I dont give a flying fuck how it strikes you.

I dont make threats. Its a fact. If someone were getting their giggles off a member of my family who had died - Id be on them!
My key point was that this forum sometimes forgets two important things:
1. How small this country really is
2. The line between respect and disrespect
What - only friends and family who have kinfold die in motorcycle accidents get privileges in here?

Go talk to your Raro friend and see if he or she can help you understand what we're on about here.

If your quote doesnt refer to me - Well then - happy to buy you a beer.

Dont get me wong, It wasnt my intention to patronise anybody at all.:dodge:
Fom what you have said here I may have read into your post differently from what you were trying to say... my bad. But yes NZ is a little hobby farm... I can think of a few little expressions that have words to that effect; and they always seem to ring true.

What - only friends and family who have kinfold die in motorcycle accidents get privileges in here?

I think that is a DAMN good point. How did the press get a hold of this story anyway? As with many things, this may not be as clear cut and defined as many, including myself are trying to make it out to be. I read yor post now as you saying the importance of family... and that posts can be relevant without sounding offensive, yes? in which case I completely agree also. I wasnt trying to sound like some pschObabble BS, but I think it is what we do that others judge us on. (or not do as the case may be) I may have read too much into your post.
PEACE

On a side note: as for the racial overtones, remember, white people commit crime and actions of excessive stupidity too!

[Skyryder]

Sorry Skyryder, I dissagree.

The family individuals were in control, the power went off, "they" had time and authority to act in their "own" best interest and they failed to provide the necessaries of life for their Mother!

They didn't even attempt to save her, they just sat around and watched her die, just like the Kahui family did with those twins.

Whether Mercury should or should not, turn off supply to it's debtors, is a separate issue altogether!

That's what is wrong with our society, all the issues are emotionally clumped together to gain the best sensational / political impact, regardless of the facts or the consequences.

God help our grandchildren, if this behaviour continues unchecked! :nono: John.

The post I responded to was about the difference between privatisation and deregulation and the confusion between the two. This post is about blame and that is not what I responded too.

Skyryder

[crashe]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10443390&ref=rss


Folole Muliaga was 'gravely ill'
Page 1 of 2 5:00AM Sunday June 03, 2007
By David Fisher

Power cut death

The woman who died after not paying her power bill was fatally ill when she left hospital and not expected to live much longer, the Herald on Sunday has learned.

The obesity-related heart and lung disease which was killing Folole Muliaga, 44, was being kept at bay by a cocktail of powerful medication - not the electricity-powered machine which helped her breathe.

But Muliaga had previously turned her back on using the drugs to seek traditional Samoan health care. Her use of medication will be one focus of the police investigation.

Muliaga died on Tuesday after a contractor working for Mercury Energy cut off power to the house she shares with her husband Lopaavea and their three children. The loss of power also cut electricity from a machine she was given to assist her breathing - leading to a police investigation into the actions of the contractor.

Other investigations are also underway in a bid to establish whether the disconnection was related to her death. The power was cut even though the family had made two payments in the last month on their bill, and only owed $168.

The revelation that Muliaga had previously rejected conventional medical help came as Mercury Energy announced it was suspending all disconnections.

The chairwoman of the parent company, Mighty River Power, offered a public apology for the tragedy, stating that "no one should ever die because they can't pay a power bill".

The company that employed the contractor for Mercury revealed it had explicit written instructions to cut the power to the Muliaga home.

The family announced her body would be returned home today, followed by a private service tomorrow and a public funeral on Wednesday.

Family spokesman Brendan Sheehan confirmed to the Herald on Sunday: "She was a very ill woman. She was gravely ill." Sheehan said he believed she had been taking her medication but did not know definitely. He also said it was common in Pacific Island families to seek traditional health care.

Middlemore Hospital bosses have refused to comment further on the case, citing the family's right to privacy. But police will be able to bypass privacy concerns in their investigation and will study medical records showing Muliaga had previously stopped taking medication given to her on release from hospital - instead opting to seek help through traditional Pacific Island healing methods.

The medication was critical to keeping her alive - although she had been told "her days were numbered", the Herald on Sunday learned.

Muliaga was suffering from cardiomyopathy - a weakness in the muscle of the heart brought on by a lack of oxygen being carried to the organ. The illness, lung disease and associated breathing difficulties were related to her obesity. She had been admitted to Middlemore Hospital in April and was discharged on May 11.

Folole Muliaga was 'gravely ill'
Page 2 of 2 5:00AM Sunday June 03, 2007
By David Fisher
Power cut death

It was not the first time she had been hospitalised since the illness was diagnosed about five years ago. On previous hospital stays for the same problem, Muliaga had been told her lifestyle had to change or her health would not improve. This time, like previous times, she was stabilised and released with medication that would help relieve the symptoms. She was also given the oxygen machine, which is intended to assist her breathing - not to breathe for her.

When doctors who had treated her heard she had died after the power cut, they were astonished. On release, she was not so ill that the machine was critical to survival.

Inquiries by the Herald on Sunday have also revealed that efforts by Mercury Energy to contact the family could also have been thwarted by the family phone being disconnected.

Sheehan confirmed that on Tuesday - the day the power was disconnected - the family did not have a telephone account. It had been reconnected by Friday.

Family preparations for the funeral today gather speed, with Muliaga's body expected home in a casket donated by Sovereign Industries, a company which manufactures coffins.

The envelope containing a $10,000 cheque, donated on Friday by Mercury Energy, had not been opened and would be kept for Muliaga's children. Muliaga's family - father, brothers and sister - were due to arrive this morning from Samoa.

Lopaavea Muliaga spoke yesterday about his wife Folole. "My wife (was) an astoundingly loving mother, a humble mother, a straightforward person.

"She loved me greatly and deeply loved our children. She loved members of her own family as well as those of mine. She greatly loved her friends who studied with her at university. Most of all she loved her father who is still living today. She was a fighter. Even though she was ill during her time at school, she never thought of giving up."

He said she was a gentle woman although "moved to anger" when their children would not follow her example. "As a mother, my wife was always calm. No matter how anxious I was and tried to rush her, she was never flustered, she always took her time and answered any questions quietly.

"Her attitude was proof of the word in the Bible that a soft answer turns away anger. She was a very good mother."

It's been a long time coming but Mercury has apologised

Mercury Energy has finally apologised for its role in the tragic death of Folole Muliaga - although would not say what its role was.

Mighty River Power chairwoman Carole Durbin also announced that all disconnections had been cancelled, and expanded the family's apology to the wider public.

"I and everyone at Mercury Energy and Mighty River Power are deeply distressed about the events of this week. I wish to thank the Muliaga family for their generosity of spirit in receiving us.

"As we all know, the police investigation is yet to be concluded. I am here to say sorry publicly to the family and to apologise to the community for our part in this tragedy. Mrs Muliaga died, so clearly something went wrong.

"I am personally committed and determined to do everything we can to ensure this does not happen again. In the meantime you can be assured that our management advised me that all disconnections have been suspended indefinitely from last Wednesday.

"No one should ever die because they can't pay a power bill.

"The tragic events of the past week speak to a wider problem and the solution will involve numerous groups and interests. We will play our part.

"Finally can I say again just how sorry we are."

[Beemer]

Once again, the ignorant revert to type and red rep those with differing opinions, using the race card:

"Racisim is the highest form of ignorance. Now off you go to the nationalist white supremist site and leave us to our motorcycling."

Thanks terbang, for giving me the biggest laugh I've had all weekend! Considering my cultural background, the white supremists would love me just as much as they would love the Samoans!

[Delerium]

This latest informations I think hightlights two points. The choice to not follow medical advice which caused her condition to deteriorate. And that the family WAS paying the bill off incrementally. The choice to use traditionaly medication is personal choice and is a case I think of each to their own. Do what you beleive in.

The fact the bill was being paid incrementally may be part of the motivation for the power company to give compensation and an apology. However The first point, not following any of the medical advice is still a major contributing factor here. Surely one can combine medical advice with traditional methods? or at least a lifestyle change.

Also the fact that the phone was cut off may have been a contributing factor. Did the power company take all necessary steps to contact the family? I still think that the blame connot rest with the power company however.

[terbang]

Without jumping to conclusions I notice that this family was Samoan and they had been in NZ for 6 years. Both parents were working so I guess that they had a modest and comfortable lifestyle (NO stories of dole or benefits there). A WRX in the driveway isn't a crime for a working family isn't it? One of them got sick, had to stop work and times obviously got tough as it would for any of us in the same situation. The power bill didn't get paid, was cut off and the mother in the houshold died. Reason of death yet to be determined. Polynesian people generally tend to be of larger build than Europeans.
Yet there is a large percentage here that just jump straight into attack mode accusing them of being 'fat' and inferring that they were bludgers on our system. What is most disgracefull is the racial overtones that a lot of the contributors, bikers, here have made. I'll have to give a little credit to lias as, with his signature, he makes no secret of his white extremist leanings (I don't agree with him) but the rest of you shamefully despise these people, pass early judgement and assumptions with regard to their nationality and then squeal with your ruby bling when it looks like you may be exposed for what you are, ignorant. Racism is the highest form of ignorance.
Racicm is something I have, in my expatriot career, been on the recieving end of as it is not confined to white guys picking on the black guys. My views are not from a leftist leaning but rather from a traveller who has, in the process of picking up two other languages, had his eyes open to the fact that the european train of thought isn't the only one. It is the perception of our kind and their kind and we must be right so we won't consider them at all. Here on this biker forum we can have a couple of racers go out onto a public road on race bikes, flout the laws and kill themeselves in a very public fashion. But its OK and they are cannonised on this site because they are our kind and anyone who dared ask any questions turned ruby. Whereas an immigrant family, going through a rough spot, loses a family member possibly because a power bill was cut and the sentiment is that they ate too much KFC and spent their money on flash cars and sat around speculating on their mothers death...

[Lias]

Well, as a lot of people have recently speculated...this just in:

"The obesity-related heart and lung disease which was killing Folole Muliaga, 44, was being kept at bay by a cocktail of powerful medication - not the electricity-powered machine which helped her breathe."

Taken from: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10443390

A point of interest. This story is suddenly and magically a lower news item rather than dominating the main story on The Herald.

Oh shit, our journalism supporting the family doesn't seem so hot anymore?

Another thing, it turns out that lady was using bullshit, unproven alternative medicine instead of conventional methods.

Nice job. Good quick 10k for the family though, huh?

VERY interesting reading.

[Delerium]

"It doesnt matter if your white, black or yellow; We all bleed the same"
-Unknown

[Lias]

Racicm is something I have, in my expatriot career, been on the recieving end of as it is not confined to white guys picking on the black guys.

Your experiences would tend to reinforce my post that xenophobia is present amongst pretty much every race and culture.

[oldrider]

The post I responded to was about the difference between privatisation and deregulation and the confusion between the two. This post is about blame and that is not what I responded too.

Skyryder

Accepted Skyrider.

One of my posts was an attempt to answer the (serious question) posted by Avgas about what NZED's breakup had to do with Mercury Energy!

That the electricity industry was deregulated not privatised!

As a result government involvement expanded into the retail sector, where it had hitherto never been involved at all! (except perhaps in Southland)

I got sideswiped by the emotion of the situation and the continuous attack on the power company being held primarily at fault.

An aside:

I have personally visited Samoa on many occasions (in the sixties) and only have the fondest memories of the people, their customs and their country.

I am disappointed at some of the developments in relations with New Zealanders of Pacific Island origins, (as reported by the media) in and around Auckland of late.

I have no experience of it my self so can't really form an opinion or comment about it except from what I glean from media reporting.

I do not think that the fiasco surrounding this family bereavement will do much to help the situation improve and that to me is disappointing. John.

[terbang]

"It doesnt matter if your white, black or yellow; We all bleed the same"
-Unknown
Yup too right and probably a revalation to some here.


Your experiences would tend to reinforce my post that xenophobia is present amongst pretty much every race and culture.

I'm warming to ya..:gob:

[Fatjim]

I think you guys need to get back on point. since I don't know what it was, I'll suggest it is....

Why do we listen to the bullshit we get from the papers/TV when we know it's blatantly wrong. They insult our intelligence, and their own.

There was now way that the woman died because the power was cut off. There are any no. of reason why this is not the cause including

ambulance service
spare bottles
If she was dependent upon it she wouldn't be at home

to name a few.


The problem is that the media is not held to account, either internally, or externally. Any other industry would be regulated by now so this shouldn't happen.

[Hitcher]

This story just keeps getting better and better (or worse and worse, depending on one's point of view).

The latest saga sees some doe-eyed "professional" director (the so-called chair of a power company) trying to protect her arse and government-provided directorships by doing a mea culpa act. The story was all but dead. It should have been left to slide quietly away, protecting the privacy of family to mourn their loss, and for the police and others to complete their investigations.

But no, time instead to slip on some jandals and a lavalava, sniff a freshly-cut onion, and embarrass a grieving family by giving them $10,000 cash in return for a $130 unpaid power bill, all the time under the heartless glare of television camera lights.

Last week when this story broke. Mercury had several options in terms of how they could have let this sad and sorry tale play out. They had all day to get their ducks in a row and to get sound professional advice about those options. Having agreed a plan, they should have stuck to it. Reputation depends on a lot of factors, but it is particularly vulnerable in times of crisis where, if well managed, reputation can be enhanced.

Mercury now looks like a bunch of blathering incompetent toadies. Their contrition is too late and compromised. If what they have done is indeed the "right thing" they should have done that first up. I hope all of their customers leave them in droves and that the Gummint sacks all of their directors for bungling ineptitude.

[Beemer]

This story just keeps getting better and better (or worse and worse, depending on one's point of view).

The latest saga sees some doe-eyed "professional" director (the so-called chair of a power company) trying to protect her arse and government-provided directorships by doing a mea culpa act. The story was all but dead. It should have been left to slide quietly away, protecting the privacy of family to mourn their loss, and for the police and others to complete their investigations.

But no, time instead to slip on some jandals and a lavalava, sniff a freshly-cut onion, and embarrass a grieving family by giving them $10,000 cash in return for a $130 unpaid power bill, all the time under the heartless glare of television camera lights.

Got it in one. Looks like this woman died from major health problems that no amount of oxygen would have helped - and it appears she had been told her lifestyle had to change or she would die. She chose to ignore medical advice and use traditional Samoan treatments, which obviously were not working.

I am appalled that Mercury has given them $10,000 because it smacks of admitting guilt and there is no way they are to blame for her death. I just hope they extend the same financial benefit to the poor bloody contractor who all along has basically been accused of killing this woman. I'd be pissed off if I were a Mercury customer, seeing them reward this family for lying and not paying their bills.

As for Herr Clark, she should resign for sticking her nose in and blaming others before the full facts were known. I hope she at least apologises to Mercury and the Vircom contractor for making them out to be heartless murderers.

I am sickened by the media frenzy over this and the one-sidedness of it all. At first, all of them pretty much accepted the family's story of "our mother was dependent on oxygen and we told the contractor that but he laughed at us and cut the power off and she died" without once asking "your mother didn't die instantly, therefore why did none of you seek help?" Even if the mother told them she didn't want to go to hospital (probably because she knew they would tell her it was all her own bloody fault), surely they could have at least called a doctor - or Mr Union Activist Brenden - for help.

I don't think this woman was killed because of a power cut, lack of oxygen or her own cultural beliefs, she died because she was stupid and that is the tragedy of all this.

And the latest from Stuff:

"Family spokesman Brenden Sheehan said the traditional Samoan apology offered by the energy executives was well received. "It has helped the family enormously. This is a Christian family. A forgiving family.""

Shame they don't hold with the typically Christian values of truth and honesty then.

[LilSel]

I am appalled that Mercury has given them $10,000 because it smacks of admitting guilt and there is no way they are to blame for her death. I just hope they extend the same financial benefit to the poor bloody contractor who all along has basically been accused of killing this woman.

As for Herr Clark, I hope she at least apologises to Mercury and the Vircom contractor for making them out to be heartless murderers.


The donation was just what the family was after though right??... It doesnt matter that its not our fault that she died... noone cares about that anymore... The damage is already done...!! We are Murderer Energy in the eyes of the public/media/world!!... It doesnt change anything.

I doubt she will give an apology... its crazy... she jumped on the wagon n pointed her finger at a SOE of the govt she is primeminister of...
I at least thought she would've been on 'our side'... benefit of the doubt etc.

I dont think any of the hundreds of people that phoned MERCURY and called us murderes... liars... killers... (and many other things that I shant type) will call back to apologise for their behaviour!...

We get abuse a fair bit... and you come to handle it... deal with it etc... but this time... threats? protests?... Why were there people in tears in the office the other day??... oh... thats right... the constant abuse was a bit much for some...

**from a call to us** 'How does it feel to be the voice of a company that murders people??' :mellow:

[Hitcher]

**from a call to us** 'How does it feel to be the voice of a company that murders people??

You should direct all of those calls to your chairperson to respond to. What an amateur. That should help bring a tear to her eye.

[LilSel]

You should direct all of those calls to your chairperson to respond to.

They didnt want a response... they just called to swear & curse etc...

I work so hard... But im still just one of those bad people aye

[sidecar bob]

I hope the first thing they do with the 10g is pay their overdue power bill.
All those of you that came out fighiting for the family, i wonder how many of you would work for free because a client was claiming health problems?
Put it in perspective as if it were coming directly out of your wages.
Yeah, none of you, Right?
Well thats what the power company was expected to do.

[Milky]

What stikes me as strange is that the company say they tried to phone the household, but couldnt get through. Fair enough, the phone might have been disconnected by the telecom company, but who here still has one of those phones that works without electricity? Our phone/fax and portable don't work in a power cut, and it is only the steam driven 1960s model in the workshop that rings...

[Karma]

Won't vote for labour because Helens PC propaganda has gone too far... if she makes it in this time I'd be very surprised... I also love the way that National and Keys has been VERY quiet over this whole thing... just waiting for the right moment, and bam! electioneering begins!

I will also not bother with Mercury either, they gave them 10k when they shouldn't have... it's called pairing, now everyone and their auntie will be trying to get money outta them by not paying the bill... I tell you one thing for certain, I wouldn't wanna be working in Mercury's collections department now ;)

Mercury - Sir, you have failed to pay your bill, please do so or we will be forced to cut off your power
Customer - But I need an oxygen tank to live...


HAHAH

[Delerium]

Havnt they suspended all cutting power due to ovurdue bills? It has set a precedent though.

[LilSel]

What stikes me as strange is that the company say they tried to phone the household, but couldnt get through. Fair enough, the phone might have been disconnected by the telecom company, but who here still has one of those phones that works without electricity? Our phone/fax and portable don't work in a power cut, and it is only the steam driven 1960s model in the workshop that rings...

yep... we tried to phone over the 7 WEEK ARREARS DISCONNECTION PROCESS... not our fault they didnt have a phone or call us with a cell phone number to update THEIR account so we COULD contact them~!...

A TELEGRAM was delivered by courier to their house advising them they had 48hours to contact us or else disconnection would occur... come on..!!

They had power for their phone to call us during that 7week timeframe... also.. it is an 0800number... and its also FREECALL from a cell phone...

Its still all our fault tho aye?

[LilSel]

Havnt they suspended all cutting power due to ovurdue bills? It has set a precedent though.

Yep... so dont worry about paying your power bills guys... (it'll just go straight to baycorp now I guess... thats alot worse on your record than being late for a bill or being disconnected dontcha think???)

another thing about this case.... it is not hard at all to self reco a premises...
(unless polefuse/pillar fuse/pit fuse has been pulled.. then you need inspector./.faultie etc... but tahts not hard to arrange etiher.~!!)

BUT.... why didnt the son of the lady... turn the power back on if it was that urgent taht they thought she may die without her machine that wasnt essential to provide life support anyway???...
a pair of side cutters and flicking the switch back on is all it wouldve taken..~!... if it was anyone i knew n they needed power for a legit reason... id reco myself then sort out the work side after... these people were just after a payout...tjhey've got that now.

[shcabbeh]

They didnt want a response... they just called to swear & curse etc...

I work so hard... But im still just one of those bad people aye

I'm sorry to hear that. I work in customer services too and have also been called a murderer for an unrelated incident. It was a lie, though when you take them seriously as per your job it leaves you feeling rotten.

That's part of why I'm angry about this whole thing. Innocent people getting trashed for something they did not cause, did not have a part of. It's not on.

People are quick to forget that companies are made up of people. People that pay their taxes, give back to society, help others etc.

The total responsibility the family is pushing on the company disgusts me and people on the front line have to deal with the backlash. The backlash from brainwashed, ignorant fools.

[Skyryder]

For those of you who have been on the recieving end from abuse from the public over this death I can symphasise. I've been on the recieving end of this stuff myself............as a bus driver.

Skyryder

[oldrider]

For those of you who have been on the recieving end from abuse from the public over this death I can symphasise. I've been on the recieving end of this stuff myself............as a bus driver.

Skyryder

C'mon, that's not a bus, it's an Italian "masterpiece" :ride: :blip: (lol) John.

[Hitcher]

What's probably coming next is free electricity for "poor" people. Bloody socialist gummint fearing electoral annihilation, anything's possible...

[Beemer]

I don't fucking believe it - now they are accusing the police of racism - wonder how much 'compensation' they are seeking from them? And how nice to hear they are offering the contractor who cut their power forgiveness - considering he was only doing his job and they were lying scum who hadn't paid their power bill, how generous of them.

Stuff - today:

Police investigating the death of south Auckland woman Folole Muliaga have been accused of institutionalised racism by her family.
FAMILY OFFER CONTRACTOR WHO CUT POWER FORGIVENESS ... PRIVATE SERVICE FOR POWER CUT VICTIM


Mrs Muliaga, 44, died last Tuesday three hours after power was cut to her Mangere home because of an overdue power account.

Police investigating her death interviewed two of her sons and her husband over the weekend but family spokesman, Brenden Sheehan, said they were "hugely insensitive" and had shown "institutionalised racism" by not knowing how to deal with other cultures.

He said family members were interviewed for several hours in English in separate rooms.

"English is not their first language."

He said while the family had been in New Zealand for six years, Samoan was their first language and they thought and mostly spoke in Samoan.

"They are thinking and speaking in Samoan and the police are speaking to them in English which I find appalling."

Mr Sheehan said when another family support member had to leave the police station to pick up her own children he (Mr Sheehan) was not allowed in.

"They told me no they had to interview them alone and I was not allowed in," he said.

He said the Samoan way was to bring the body home, to grieve and mourn and to have the funeral.

"I think there is a real problem with the way police deal with other cultures."

He said as Mrs Muliaga's body was being taken home yesterday, he received a telephone message from police saying he was expecting one of Mrs Muliaga's sons to be interviewed with a lawyer present and "could he come down to the police station that day.

"Obviously I didn't return the call but it's outrageous. These people are victims. What hope has any brown person got if they are a suspect in a case in this country.

"If they treat victims like this how do they treat suspects?"

Mr Sheehan said he was also "disgusted and appalled" that the police had apparently said publicly that no charges would be laid because Mrs Muliaga was a very sick woman.

He said the unnamed police source was quoted in The Press newspaper after police had earlier told him they would not comment publicly but then breached their own undertaking by doing so.

"Of course she was a very sick woman. That is why we have gone to the press.

"But it appears (if you are sick) police seem to think your life is worth nothing."

He said he was "furious" and did not want to speak yet to police about it but the family now wanted a fresh police team to take over the inquiry.

"I think the investigation is so compromised at this stage that it cannot possibly produce a fair and balanced report."

The officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher, refused to comment on the claims today.

"I haven't had that conveyed to me so I am not prepared to make any comment about it.

"I am not entering into some media debate over police procedural inquiry matters.

"If he wishes to make those views known to the police then clearly we will listen but there is a process and that is what we would recommend," Mr Gallagher said.

Mr Sheehan said the family was coping with their grief but it would be after the funeral and the public service on Wednesday that it would fully sink in.

[Dave Lobster]

He said while the family had been in New Zealand for six years, Samoan was their first language and they thought and mostly spoke in Samoan.

"They are thinking and speaking in Samoan and the police are speaking to them in English which I find appalling."

This is pretty bad. There's no excuse for not having learned the language in that time.

I have a chinese friend who's been here two years. He didn't know a word when he got here. His English is now nigh on perfect. Within the two years.

How on earth is it appalling that the police speak to people in English? FFS.. this is getting really silly now.

[Fatjim]

Yeah, the Chinese lady down at Yum Yum F&C has it down pat too.

"How long you come".


Odds on being PDT'd?


$2.20

[BarBender]

Dont get me wong, It wasnt my intention to patronise anybody at all.:dodge:
Fom what you have said here I may have read into your post differently from what you were trying to say... my bad. But yes NZ is a little hobby farm... I can think of a few little expressions that have words to that effect; and they always seem to ring true.

What - only friends and family who have kinfold die in motorcycle accidents get privileges in here?

I think that is a DAMN good point. How did the press get a hold of this story anyway? As with many things, this may not be as clear cut and defined as many, including myself are trying to make it out to be. I read yor post now as you saying the importance of family... and that posts can be relevant without sounding offensive, yes? in which case I completely agree also. I wasnt trying to sound like some pschObabble BS, but I think it is what we do that others judge us on. (or not do as the case may be) I may have read too much into your post.
PEACE

On a side note: as for the racial overtones, remember, white people commit crime and actions of excessive stupidity too!

Mate - I'm grateful for you coming back to me and not taking my post personally. The PM was well not required but appreciated.
Cheers
BB

[shcabbeh]

They're using the race card on the cops for doing their job now?

Is there anyone else they can blame?

Hey, y'know that illness she had was very inconsiderate of overweight people. The ministry of health clearly hasn't done enough to curb its racist and weightist movements against the family. I hold them fully responsible.

For crying out loud, this is just getting absolutely ridiculous.

[Beemer]

They're using the race card on the cops for doing their job now?

Is there anyone else they can blame?

Hey, y'know that illness she had was very inconsiderate of overweight people. The ministry of health clearly hasn't done enough to curb its racist and weightist movements against the family. I hold them fully responsible.

For crying out loud, this is just getting absolutely ridiculous.

I totally agree. For fucks sake, if they had gone to live in America or France or anywhere else in the world where Samoan is not the official language (gee, I guess that would be EVERYWHERE except Samoa) they would be questioned in English. She was supposedly an early childhood teacher - in a Samoan preschool? Yeah, right.

Well, there are three companies/organisations I won't support now - Mercury Energy - not for pulling the plug, but for wearing sackcloth and ashes and paying bad customers $10,000; the EPMU because they are Labour supporters and after Helen Clark's outbursts I won't be renewing my membership, and now Fisher and Paykel - on the weekend they gave the family a freezer. Bet it wasn't a second-hand one either.

I'm pretty broke right now and need some money to pay my bills. Unfortunately I paid the power bill last week so I can't try them, but I wonder if ACC would pay me something if I said I can't pay my levies this week and would be under extreme mental anguish if they set the debt collectors onto me? Oh, and my microwave is playing up, wonder if Panasonic will give me a new one because I need it to warm the kitten's milk.

I can't believe how much these bad customers have been rewarded - hell, even members of the public are giving them donations! They were quoted the other day as saying they wouldn't be using the $10,000 for the funeral as they would be paying for it from public donations. What wonderful NZers!

[Storm]

The age of no personal responsibility is here.

We're all fucked

[Grahameeboy]

An interesting debate.

2 points

1) Contractor should have called his Manager for a final decision.
2) A family member should have ensured that power was re-instated.

1) I know they get abuse at times, however, this appears to have been an out of the ordinary situation i.e. medical so a call to a Manager should have been the first decision, like any Customer Service issue.
2) Goes without saying.

But at end of day the proximate cause of this whole mess (not necessarily the death) was the contractor simply cutting off the power without any referral. What difference would a few hours or days have made while matter was investigated........the family had made some payments to reduce debt and at end of day it was only $168......

Family have for me not lost points because at the same time as dealing with the grief they are talking about compensation.........perhaps driven by media, however, as far as I know in Samoan culture the burial is 3 to 4 days max following death so they could have waited.

Often guilty in the country is not thinking outside the box....that's my job and that is all I have to do syndrome regardless of situation.

Simple example....a few years ago I had my leg in a brace / was on crutches. Ex had to park in a layby on Queen Street to pick me up for an appointment. Traffic Warden was going to give us a ticket despite the obvious.....said "I am just doing my job".

At end of day, fault lies with all parties concerned and maybe this whole incident will be a lesson for all.

[scumdog]

An interesting debate.

2 points

1) Contractor should have called his Manager for a final decision.
2) A family member should have ensured that power was re-instated.

1

But at end of day the proximate cause of this whole mess (not necessarily the death) was the contractor simply cutting off the power without any referral. What difference would a few hours or days have made while matter was investigated........the family had made some payments to reduce debt and at end of day it was only $168......

Piss-off GB, you're all one sided with the above man!

WHY was no Ambulance called
A cord COULD have been run from a neighbours (or was it that kind of neighbourhood where they don't talk to neighbours?)
Why was WINZ or whoever not contacted earlier to assist with the power bill if loss of power was going to be fatal (which I have reservations on) as the family would have had HEAPS of warning about the possible impending loss of power.

Yadda yadda and yadda again.

[Beemer]

An interesting debate.

2 points

1) Contractor should have called his Manager for a final decision.
2) A family member should have ensured that power was re-instated.

1) I know they get abuse at times, however, this appears to have been an out of the ordinary situation i.e. medical so a call to a Manager should have been the first decision, like any Customer Service issue.


I have to disagree here. The contractor's job is to disconnect or reconnect the power, end of story. He does not have the discretion to accept sob stories because trust me, he would have heard them all. From memory, when I worked for a power company, it was not a contractor's job to ring in and try to avert the disconnection, it was the customer's job. The contractor would wait while the customer rang the power company, and he would then talk to the power company himself, but he would only not go ahead with the disconnection if told not to by the call centre staff. And that would only be after the customer had produced a receipt that could be verified or had given the contractor the money to cover the debt - including the disconnection fee, which would be added even if the disconnection did not go ahead.

Everyone seems to forget that these people had about seven weeks to avoid being disconnected. The fact they made some payments on the account means nothing - they may have promised to pay the full amount on a certain date and reneged on that arrangement. Any variation of an agreed payment plan would result in disconnection and the customer is made fully aware of this.

Unfortunately it now means all our power costs will go up because instead of bad customers being disconnected, we will all end up subsidising them. And where is the fairness in that? I bet all the Samoans out there who DO pay their bills on time must be pissed off with this family playing the race card.

[MSTRS]

Might have been said already...haven't read it all, but the media have a lot to be ashamed of in this saga....
Reporting at all times about 'the woman who died after her power was turned off'. In the simplest of terms this is true, but never do they draw attention to the fact that she was going to die sooner rather than later, regardless of any outside factors.
She was fat and deathly ill. Whose fault was that?

[Grahameeboy]

I have to disagree here. The contractor's job is to disconnect or reconnect the power, end of story. He does not have the discretion to accept sob stories because trust me, he would have heard them all. From memory, when I worked for a power company, it was not a contractor's job to ring in and try to avert the disconnection, it was the customer's job. The contractor would wait while the customer rang the power company, and he would then talk to the power company himself, but he would only not go ahead with the disconnection if told not to by the call centre staff. And that would only be after the customer had produced a receipt that could be verified or had given the contractor the money to cover the debt - including the disconnection fee, which would be added even if the disconnection did not go ahead.

Everyone seems to forget that these people had about seven weeks to avoid being disconnected. The fact they made some payments on the account means nothing - they may have promised to pay the full amount on a certain date and reneged on that arrangement. Any variation of an agreed payment plan would result in disconnection and the customer is made fully aware of this.

Unfortunately it now means all our power costs will go up because instead of bad customers being disconnected, we will all end up subsidising them. And where is the fairness in that? I bet all the Samoans out there who DO pay their bills on time must be pissed off with this family playing the race card.

I don't disagree with all that you say, have said same thing in previous posts, however, just think that the bit I have bolded is a bit narrowminded and sad to say not uncommon in NZ in my experience (thought I had better chuck that in).........if it was me I would have called in to my Supervisor.

Agree they are used to Sob Stories, but if they saw evidence of medical equipment I just feel that the Contractor should have realised that this was not your typical sob story.

[Grahameeboy]

Piss-off GB, you're all one sided with the above man!

WHY was no Ambulance called
A cord COULD have been run from a neighbours (or was it that kind of neighbourhood where they don't talk to neighbours?)
Why was WINZ or whoever not contacted earlier to assist with the power bill if loss of power was going to be fatal (which I have reservations on) as the family would have had HEAPS of warning about the possible impending loss of power.

Yadda yadda and yadda again.

Fair enough but see my reply to Beemers to save me typing.

[Beemer]

Might have been said already...haven't read it all, but the media have a lot to be ashamed of in this saga....
Reporting at all times about 'the woman who died after her power was turned off'. In the simplest of terms this is true, but never do they draw attention to the fact that she was going to die sooner rather than later, regardless of any outside factors.
She was fat and deathly ill. Whose fault was that?

You hit the nail on the head there - I'm a journalist and I would be ashamed to put my name to any of these stories. It's mostly been onesided, and every time someone has tried to get to the real story, they have been accused of being racist or another 'fact' appears out of the blue that puts the blame fairly and squarely on anyone other than the family. What's the bet that guy Sheehan ends up an MP after all this? God knows he's got the bullshitability to do the job!

I am sick of hearing "the death of a woman after her power was cut". If she died within minutes of the power being cut off, fair enough, that could be seen as the direct cause of her death. The fact she was alive for three more hours proves that the power disconnection was NOT the direct cause of her death. Her family had ample time to call for help and the fact they did not cannot be blamed on anyone else.

I am appalled by the sympathy and financial help that has been heaped on this family. What does that teach others in their situation? That if the worst happens, don't worry, it won't be your fault and everyone will rally to your defence. A bit like when an uninsured house burns down and all of a sudden the family has new everything, while other battlers stuggle to pay their insurance and don't have new things even when the old ones break down.

New Zealand is getting too PC and I'm really pissed off!

[MSTRS]

You hit the nail on the head there - I'm a journalist and I would be ashamed to put my name to any of these stories. It's mostly been onesided, and every time someone has tried to get to the real story, they have been accused of being racist or another 'fact' appears out of the blue that puts the blame fairly and squarely on anyone other than the family. What's the bet that guy Sheehan ends up an MP after all this? God knows he's got the bullshitability to do the job!

I am sick of hearing "the death of a woman after her power was cut". If she died within minutes of the power being cut off, fair enough, that could be seen as the direct cause of her death. The fact she was alive for three more hours proves that the power disconnection was NOT the direct cause of her death. Her family had ample time to call for help and the fact they did not cannot be blamed on anyone else.

I am appalled by the sympathy and financial help that has been heaped on this family. What does that teach others in their situation? That if the worst happens, don't worry, it won't be your fault and everyone will rally to your defence. A bit like when an uninsured house burns down and all of a sudden the family has new everything, while other battlers stuggle to pay their insurance and don't have new things even when the old ones break down.

New Zealand is getting too PC and I'm really pissed off!

Bing-bloody-o!!

[MSTRS]

I don't disagree with all that you say, have said same thing in previous posts, however, just think that the bit I have bolded is a bit narrowminded and sad to say not uncommon in NZ in my experience (thought I had better chuck that in).........if it was me I would have called in to my Supervisor.

Agree they are used to Sob Stories, but if they saw evidence of medical equipment I just feel that the Contractor should have realised that this was not your typical sob story.

Did he see this? If 'invited' in by an angry Islander, would you accept??

[Grahameeboy]

Did he see this? If 'invited' in by an angry Islander, would you accept??

I got the impression he saw something.........mention made of tube in nose was one but could be wrong.

Angry different to being aggressive...I would have gone in........are angry Islanders worst than white folk then.......hum

[Paul in NZ]

The interesting thing is if this family had not been related to one Brenden Sheehan, a Aussie Union organiser and ex media guy, this this story would be very different.

Hes done a great job staring down mercury (who should have stuck to their plan) but I think he just overplayed his hand with the Police / racisim thing.

Ultimately - this is the Brenden Sheehan show.... (Goggle his name)

Cheers

[Karma]

I got the impression he saw something.........mention made of tube in nose was one but could be wrong.


And where did you get that impression?

Can't trust everything you read in the papers mate.

[Grahameeboy]

And where did you get that impression?

From the posts on KB:innocent:

Can't trust everything you read in the papers mate.

Or KB:innocent:

....................

[Beemer]

The interesting thing is if this family had not been related to one Brenden Sheehan, a Aussie Union organiser and ex media guy, this this story would be very different.

Hes done a great job staring down mercury (who should have stuck to their plan) but I think he just overplayed his hand with the Police / racisim thing.

Ultimately - this is the Brenden Sheehan show.... (Goggle his name)

Cheers

I hadn't checked him out but thought if he hadn't been a union organiser (and a bloody Aussie to boot!) then the story would have died a natural death (pun intended). This may be the way they would do it in Aussie, but I can't believe the media's actions in this country.

First the family blames Mercury - Mercury pay $10,000 and it sounds like they will pay more (ACC have jumped on the bandwagon too). Then they blame the police - what's the bet they get a formal apology at least? Who's next - Telecom? What's the bet their phone had been disconnected too, so I guess Telecom is to blame somehow as well, because even if they had wanted to call for help, they wouldn't have been able to.

[Grahameeboy]

I hadn't checked him out but thought if he hadn't been a union organiser (and a bloody Aussie to boot!) then the story would have died a natural death (pun intended). This may be the way they would do it in Aussie, but I can't believe the media's actions in this country.

First the family blames Mercury - Mercury pay $10,000 and it sounds like they will pay more (ACC have jumped on the bandwagon too). Then they blame the police - what's the bet they get a formal apology at least? Who's next - Telecom? What's the bet their phone had been disconnected too, so I guess Telecom is to blame somehow as well, because even if they had wanted to call for help, they wouldn't have been able to.

Geeze, how do ACC figure in on this..........now that is maddening if ACC get involved...........well you know my rant about ACC / Born with a disability........

[Indiana_Jones]

It's good to see most people have a common sense view on this matter and arn't hoping on the media led, PC, faggot sob story bullshit.

heaps of people on stuff.co.nz agree that they should of rang for help, go next doors etc.

And look at that fat arse son of hers, when I saw him next to the casket said "don't worry son, you'll be with her in a few years"

It's sad that someone has died, but the fact is, power companies don't just go "The bill is 1 hour over due!, cut the power!" They give plenty of time to sort these matters out.

What's the bet there was still plenty of money to spend on fags and booze, but not the power?

Bah, I'm gonna play some Silent Hunter III............when I get home lol

-Indy

[Babelfish]

In terms of whether the contractor should turn the juice off or not, my personal preference would be that they somehow move to remote switching to save the poor buggers from getting involved.

The last I'll personally say on this is: IT IS EVERYONES PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF BOTH YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILIES, DONT EXPECT ANYONE ELSE TO GIVE A SHIT. Just because some of the media are both lazy and shortsighted, doesnt mean the supposed corporate devils are out to get you. I really hope the family and others with their society draining hands out do not have a negative effect on our power bills along with our taxes but I seriously doubt it, considering the meeks obvious inheritence of the earth.

[Patrick]

This was not a life support system, it was only for occassional breathing support. It appears that she or other family members would have had plenty of time to make alternative arrangements when the power was finally disconnected, even after many months of letters and warnings from the power company.
Still a tragic outcome all the same and hopefully lessons can be learnt from this, the first one being not to believe a one sided and melodramatic media report of the story made to sound sensational and secondly to pay your power bill on time or notify the Company who are usually happy to assist you in genuine cases of hardship.

THOUGHT I WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO SAW THIS...


If you can be prosecuted for dangerous driving, you should be able to be prosecuted for dangerous writing or reporting!

Doesn't personal responsibility exist in New Zealand any more? :nono: John.
THE MEDIA HAVE A LOT TO ANSWER FOR...


The family (excepting the father) were all extremely obese. Seems like the family could afford to eat well but not pay the power. They were also talking about "compensation" with 24 hours of their mothers death. That makes me doubt their story and motives even more. If your mothers just died normal peopel dont start asking for a payout right away!
I BLAME KFC...........


the family watched her die for 2 hours.....they said so themselves.
The son said he wanted to call an ambulance but the mother wouldn't let him.
Stupid bastards, if it was my mother I would have got the ambulance within 10 minutes no matter what she said......
Media is taking the wrong end of the story as usual.
Media bullshit.
THE FAMILY BEING CHARGED WITH FAILING TO SUPPLY THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE SHOULD FOLLOW.


Dontcha wish the cops would turn up with the long batons?
SHE IS NOT THAT SORT OF GIRL!!!!


When are people going to wake up and understand not to make assumptions until you know the full story.

I'M AWAITING THE POST MORTEM RESULT..........



If I picked on a fat whitey smoker would you object...Who's the racist then.

BUT THERE IS NO NEWS STORY BEATUP THERE...


They should blame KFC and McDonalds as much as the power company for her death

I would have put a few leads together and sourced power from a neighbour , anything but sit there and do nothing anyway, so the whole thing has my bullshit meter going off the scale

OBESITY WAS THE PROBLEM, NOT A MACHINE THAT DID NOT SUSTAIN HER LIFE... IT WAS ONLY TO HELP OUT WHEN NEEDED OCCASIONALLY... BUT THE NEIGHBOOURS DID OFFER, APPARENTLY...


In all honesty everyone whose jumped on the band wagon in the media should at least wait till an autopsy of what actually killed her comes out. Helen Clark is going to feel like an absolute idiot if it comes out that she died of a completley unrelated problem like a brain clot, or heart attack that wasnt related to the o2 machine.

SHE IS GOOD AT THIS... REMEMBER WAITARA??? H.C. SAID "THIS MAY HAVE BEEN A RACIALLY MOTIVATED KILLING..." BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA


I cannot find any news reports on the results of the autopsy.

The coroner's findings should have been available some time yesterday afternoon. No mention has been made which suggests to me the findings leave Ms. Clark with egg on her face and that the cause of death was not related to the loss of electricity.
.

AWAITING THIS TOO, BUT EVEN IF IT IS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE POWER BEING CUT OFF, YOU KNOW IT WILL BE USED AS A POLITICAL TOY...


The donation was just what the family was after though right??... It doesnt matter that its not our fault that she died... noone cares about that anymore... The damage is already done...!! We are Murderer Energy in the eyes of the public/media/world!!... It doesnt change anything.

I doubt she will give an apology... its crazy... she jumped on the wagon n pointed her finger at a SOE of the govt she is primeminister of...
I at least thought she would've been on 'our side'... benefit of the doubt etc.

I dont think any of the hundreds of people that phoned MERCURY and called us murderes... liars... killers... (and many other things that I shant type) will call back to apologise for their behaviour!...

We get abuse a fair bit... and you come to handle it... deal with it etc... but this time... threats? protests?... Why were there people in tears in the office the other day??... oh... thats right... the constant abuse was a bit much for some...

**from a call to us** 'How does it feel to be the voice of a company that murders people??' :mellow:

REALLY LOVE TO SEE THAT POSTMORTEM RESULT ANY TIME SOON......


I don't fucking believe it - now they are accusing the police of racism - wonder how much 'compensation' they are seeking from them? And how nice to hear they are offering the contractor who cut their power forgiveness - considering he was only doing his job and they were lying scum who hadn't paid their power bill, how generous of them.

Stuff - today:

Police investigating the death of south Auckland woman Folole Muliaga have been accused of institutionalised racism by her family.

Police investigating her death interviewed two of her sons and her husband over the weekend but family spokesman, Brenden Sheehan, said they were "hugely insensitive" and had shown "institutionalised racism" by not knowing how to deal with other cultures.

He said family members were interviewed for several hours in English in separate rooms.

"English is not their first language."

COULD HAVE FOOLED ME...THEY SEEM VERY FLUENT IN ALL THE TV INTERVIEWS.


"These people are victims. If they treat victims like this how do they treat suspects?"

LOVE THIS... AGAIN, FAILING TO PROVIDE THE NECESSARIES OF LIFE CHARGE FOR THOSE WHO STOOD AROUND SINGING AND PATTING HER HANDS, DOING NOTHING...

[MikeyG]

This whole thing was totally avoidable but I think the power company did nothing wrong and the family shoiuld have got up off their fat asses. It seems to me the family sat back and waited for people to come to them instead of trying to be proactive and get stuff sorted out. 2 examples below.

1) If you are going to get your power cut off you get a letter a week or more before hand. They should have done something when they got the letter instead of waiting for the contractor to show up at the door.

2) Once the power was cut it took 3 hours for her to die. Why didn't someone call an ambulance?

Contractors in this sort of field are told not only sob stories but complete lies all the time to stop them removing access to services. I do not believe that the contractor can be blamed when the family should have sorted stuff out with the power company when they first heard of the problems.

It makes me sick that they are getting compensated for this when to me it was their fault.

[robzilla]

Might aswell throw my two cents in...

I kind of missed the start of this (I'm useless with keeping up on current affairs), so when i first saw the story on the news i was like 'Bastard power company KILLED that poor sick woman!'

But the more i watched i realized the news was only presenting one side of the news story, with usually full heartfelt accounts fro the 'victims', and tiny soundbites from the power co. etc.

I ESPECIALLY liked the interview with the family's lawyer, THAT was a biased piece of journalism - the way the news story made us blatantly cheer for the under dog small time lawyer vs. huge law firm (David vs. evil evil Goliath), with out any sort of input from the other side. But then thats how 'news' works i guess? (show the people what they want!)


OK theres my point -

Fuck the news :Punk:


As for the whole saga (I bet they're gonna call it "POWERgate" or something equally inane) I'll see what happpens.

[Beemer]

COULD HAVE FOOLED ME...THEY SEEM VERY FLUENT IN ALL THE TV INTERVIEWS.

You missed two all-important letters out of that quote, Patrick.

"they seem very EFfluent in all the TV interviews" - in other words, they talked shit!

It's like most people for whom English is not their first language. If they like what you are saying, they understand you perfectly well. If they don't, that's when the "sorry, no understand, no speak English" cuts in.

[Paul in NZ]

I think you are all missing an important point - go back to my earlier post and google the name - see which union he is involved with and ask why state funded broadcasting was so lame... The guy did a great PR jobbie on this.

[LilSel]

What difference would a few hours or days have made while matter was investigated........the family had made some payments to reduce debt and at end of day it was only $168......



THEY DID NOT PHONE MERCURY TILL 8PMK- AFTER SHE HAD DIED. HAD THEY CALLED WHEN THE DISCONNECTION OCCURED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECONNECTED IMMEDIATLY

[LilSel]

Who's next - Telecom? What's the bet their phone had been disconnected too, so I guess Telecom is to blame somehow as well, because even if they had wanted to call for help, they wouldn't have been able to.

their phone was disconnected

[Patrick]

You missed two all-important letters out of that quote, Patrick.

"they seem very EFfluent in all the TV interviews" - in other words, they talked shit!

It's like most people for whom English is not their first language. If they like what you are saying, they understand you perfectly well. If they don't, that's when the "sorry, no understand, no speak English" cuts in.

Bwahahahahaha... get that on the streets too, no speekee engrish, but as you pull out the ticket book, it changes to perfect Queens English, "I say old chap, no possibility of a warning for my minor infraction, say what old chum?"

[LilSel]

In terms of whether the contractor should turn the juice off or not, my personal preference would be that they somehow move to remote switching to save the poor buggers from getting involved.


It is already been trialled in auckland

[MSTRS]

Bwahahahahaha... get that on the streets too, no speekee engrish, but as you pull out the ticket book, it changes to perfect Queens English, "I say old chap, no possibility of a warning for my minor infraction, say what old chum?"

What? One where less than 5 people were killed??

[Patrick]

THEY DID NOT PHONE MERCURY TILL 8PMK- AFTER SHE HAD DIED. HAD THEY CALLED WHEN THE DISCONNECTION OCCURED IT WOULD HAVE BEEN RECONNECTED IMMEDIATLY

You're in for an infraction... Nya nya na nah nya....":spanking: :nya:

You typed in capitals!!!:gob: Got one for my post #212 above.........

[Patrick]

What? One where less than 5 people were killed??

No... you get turned in to a celebrity for that.....

He will be in "Dancing With the Stars" next...

[MSTRS]

When does Dancing with Ropes start? I'd watch that one....

[Patrick]

When does Dancing with Ropes start? I'd watch that one....

Saddam trialled that.... was quite successful too...

[MSTRS]

Saddam trialled that.... was quite successful too...

Missed that. Must have been out speeding and causing the destruction of civilisation as we know it. Will there be a re-run? Or perhaps you taped it?
:innocent:

[Patrick]

Taped it over my chicken porn...

[LilSel]

You're in for an infraction... Nya nya na nah nya....":spanking: :nya:

You typed in capitals!!!:gob: Got one for my post #212 above.........

opps... 1st for everything huh? :innocent:

[Patrick]

opps... 1st for everything huh? :innocent:

Heh heh heh... tisk tisk tisk.... quite right tho, first timer too....

[imdying]

Wonder if all the coconuts that came over for the funeral will get to stay in the country for grieving purposes or some equally pathetic tripe.

[MisterD]

I got the impression he saw something.........mention made of tube in nose was one but could be wrong.


She came to the door with the tube in her nose apparently, which prompts two comments:
1) All my experience of people on oxygen is with them carrying bottles of the stuff around, this is the first I've heard of these concentrator machines so I guess reasonable to assume similar of Joe Blow contractor.

2) How was she too fat and ill to be moved next door if she made it as far as the front door on her own?

[Sollyboy]

Havnt they suspended all cutting power due to ovurdue bills? It has set a precedent though.

Only cause labour want the political points , this whole thing is bullshit and a good way to sidetrack the public from any real issues going on, bottom line her death was her fault and no one elses

[Beemer]

Latest news on this saga from Radio NZ. Maybe Helen Clark could step in and pay for this? And if she thinks SOEs shouldn't harrass people for money, does this extend to IRD? The courts? Yeah, I can really see that happening.

There are estimates that the funeral for Folole Muliaga could cost her family more than $100,000.

Mrs Muliaga's death after the power was cut to her home last Tuesday due to an unpaid bill of $168.40 has sparked an outcry, and Mercury Energy has since stopped all disconnections.

Her funeral is on Wednesday morning. On Monday night, about 300 people remembered her at a family service at the Samani Pule Pule community centre in Mangere, not far from her home. Radio New Zealand's Pacific issues correspondent says the family service fused traditional Samoan prayers and speeches with upbeat hymns led by members of the Mangere Assembly of God choir.

Women carried flowers and i'ei or cloths to cover the casket, while those who have visited the home during the past week have taken donations of cash and food. Following a Pacific tradition, the Muliaga family will reciprocate with both cash and food donations given back in return.

They also had to pay for the post-service supper, which the caterer says cost about $10,000. Mrs Lena Brunt-Beetham said this kind of catering was not unusual at a big Pacific funeral, and the food after the funeral will cost more.

Pacific funerals
Some of the mourners were critical of the money Pacific people spend on funerals. One who did not want to be named spent more than $90,000 on his brother's funeral and said the costs for this family will be much higher. He said funerals keep the Pacific community poor and many are resigned to it.

Another, who also did not want to be identified, said some people even plan ahead by taking out insurance.

However, one mourner who worked with Mrs Muliaga said the community has its own way of dealing with costs and a family service was not the place to talk about them.

After Mrs Muliaga's burial on Wednesday, the family will look at its options for legal action against Mercury Energy.

Mercury Energy has given the family money towards the cost of her funeral, and says it is deeply remorseful for her death.

[Flatcap]

There are estimates that the funeral for Folole Muliaga could cost her family more than $100,000.
.

What's wrong with a hessian sack and a cheap plot in the wop wops?

[Beemer]

What's wrong with a hessian sack and a cheap plot in the wop wops?

Oh, don't worry, they don't even have to pay for those - a casket company has donated a coffin and the cemetery a plot. I know the family has lost the plot here, now we know where it's gone!

And Grahameeboy, I can't find the story, but there was one in the national papers where ACC said they would be investigating whether the family was entitled to any compensation for her death - and they were quoted as saying they would not wait for the family to contact them, they would take it upon themselves to contact the family and advise them of their entitlements. Now can you see why we're all getting pissed off? Do you know of anyone who has been treated SO well for being in debt and not taking care of their own health as much as they can?

[Flatcap]

Oh, don't worry, they don't even have to pay for those - a casket company has donated a coffin and the cemetery a plot. I know the family has lost the plot here, now we know where it's gone!


...and this will be a DOUBLE SIZE casket and a DOUBLE plot...

[peasea]

Truthfully? I'm getting a bit sick of the whole fucking drama.

Pay your bills and you don't get disconnected. Where's the personal responsibility? I don't pay my speeding fines....should I get a free casket if I high-side my tractor? If we get disconnected I'd expect at least ONE of my family to call an ambulance if my oxygen machine was so vital to my life. What was REALLY going on here? The guy who disconnected the house has a 'slightly' different story to the family yet they still get air time, a free casket and ten grand yet nothing's been proved or dis-proved.

Seriously, I feel like letting my next bill slide in the hope that I can cash up, pay the arrears and fly to Canada for two weeks.

Jeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzzuuuuss!!!!

[imdying]

Seriously, I feel like letting my next bill slide in the hope that I can cash up, pay the arrears and fly to Canada for two weeks.Make sure you take waylander with you :yes:

[peasea]

Make sure you take waylander with you :yes:


Why? Nice tits or wot?

[Hitcher]

Why? Nice tits or wot?

Or wot. Definitely or wot.

[peasea]

Or wot. Definitely or wot.

Personality perhaps, I always like folk with personality.

Awarua Street is one of my old stomping grounds........scary.

[Hitcher]

Awarua Street is one of my old stomping grounds........scary.

I estimate I have spent $10,000 at Tans Fish & Chips over 20 years in Ngaio.

[oldrider]

I'M AWAITING THE POST MORTEM RESULT..........

REALLY LOVE TO SEE THAT POSTMORTEM RESULT ANY TIME SOON.....

Does anyone really expect that postmortem result to be accurately reported to the public?

I doubt that will happen as long as (Teflon) Clark is prime minister of New Zealand!

Unkind comment? :nono: (not IMHO) Check out her record for dodging responsibility when it suits her! :sick:

Speaks for it's self! :yes: John.

[MisterD]

...and this will be a DOUBLE SIZE casket and a DOUBLE plot...

Get in the JCB, dig deep and bury her sideways.:yes:

[MisterD]

I doubt that will happen as long as (Teflon) Clark is prime minister of New Zealand!

Unkind comment? :nono: (not IMHO) Check out her record for dodging responsibility when it suits her! :sick:


More to the point currently, is her record of putting the boot in when someone's down. I'm so looking forward to the day when all that karma comes home to roost. Fuckin' old crone that she is.

[Delerium]

disregard, shouldnt really comment on that.

[Wannabiker]

Yeah, I wouldn't like to be the coroner on this one. (not that I am a coroner...but I do watch CSI and cold case)...I bet he is (was) under a little pressure!!

A DR wrote in the Dom today that the machine she was on was meant to be used for up to 16 hrs a day...certainly not 24/7. People who are on LIFE SUPPORT are kept in hospital.

And on morning TV today the PM saying that disconnecting the power ...'.is not something any decent person would do....'[in that situation] Ffs that poor contractor has just been condemed pubicly by the PM. I'm surprized she needs a cabinet as she knows so f***n much about everything.
OK..thats my 2 bobs worth

[Karma]

Mate, I'd fucken love it if I was the contractor.

Wait till the truth comes out that it wasn't his fault, and he sues the ass offa anyone he can, and then takes a few years off work on ACC due to 'stress'. Game on!

[peasea]

I estimate I have spent $10,000 at Tans Fish & Chips over 20 years in Ngaio.


I'd hate to guess your cholestorol level then. No matter, just don't pay your power bill and you'll get a free casket when you snuff it from the self-inflicted medical problems you have from a poor diet.

Oops, did I say that out loud? Saying things like that isn't what "any decent person would do".

Trial by media, operation mushroom, break out the counsellors and compensate the crap out of anyone who has no personal responsibility.

[NighthawkNZ]

Does anyone really expect that postmortem result to be accurately reported to the public?

I doubt that will happen as long as (Teflon) Clark is prime minister of New Zealand!

Unkind comment? :nono: (not IMHO) Check out her record for dodging responsibility when it suits her! :sick:

Speaks for it's self! :yes: John.

agreed... I don't know how many bullets she has dodged... more than superman anyway :dodge:

[Grahameeboy]

Mate, I'd fucken love it if I was the contractor.

Wait till the truth comes out that it wasn't his fault, and he sues the ass offa anyone he can, and then takes a few years off work on ACC due to 'stress'. Game on!

Unless he is named not sure he can sue and don't get me on the ACC thingymegig.....

Have been thinking and just to explain.

I do not believe that the contractor or Mercury is/are responsible for the lady's death. I just feel that perhaps things could have been handled better. Agreed they get sob stories, however, some are genuine and if the Contractor had any inkling that there was medical equipment in house he should have called for advise.

I believe that the family had plenty of opportunity to;

- Ring for an ambulance
- Ask a neighbour to use their power
- Pay the bill......there must have been somone who could have coughed up.

Novus Actus Intervenien (not sure about spelling) but it exonerates the original wrongdoer from negligence because the family, once aware of problem did not take action to avoid problem

I suspect that the stress probably aggravated the lady's condition which explains the rapid deterioration.

The proximate cause was not the cutting off of power as there was a broken chain of events.........namely the Family, for reasons best known to them, failing to take the action above.

I believe that Mercury's decision to pay $10,000, whilst a nice gesture, has not helped their cause as for some it could be seen as an admission of fault.

The media should be reported for creating an unnecessary backlash and knee jerking............interesting that they did not offer to help the family which I guess gives some credit to Mercury, whether you agree with their gestere, or not.

No point blaming anyone, just a lesson to be learned.

[Grahameeboy]

agreed... I don't know how many bullets she has dodged... more than superman anyway :dodge:

He does not need to dodge bullets silly

[shcabbeh]

"The Muliaga family say they want the police investigation into the death of Folole to be stopped immediately."

Taken from: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10443867

Of course they do. What pisses me off about this latest development is that they say:

"Family spokesman Brenden Sheehan told the Herald yesterday the family did not want the contractor to be investigated or charged.

He said the family had only love for the contractor and had forgiven him for disconnecting the power."

They're making it seem as if they're absolutely and completely in the right! Forgiveness seems to come easy when there's money involved. I personally believe they don't want the investigation to continue for fear of being charged themselves.

I thought it was ridiculous before, but surely someone else can see the madness here?