Power cut off, woman dies

[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:Me]

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:Me]

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

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

Or KB

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

[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? 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??'

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.