KEY POINTS:
The Chief Coroner has stepped down from his role in presiding over an inquest into the death of Auckland woman Folole Muliaga, to avoid a perception of bias.
A hearing was held in the Auckland District Court today over whether Judge Neil MacLean could preside over the inquest after Mrs Muliaga's family objected to his role.
The family objected to Judge MacLean because of an alleged conflict of interest due to his friendship with Christchurch businessman Rex Williams.
Mrs Muliaga, 44, of Mangere, died in May after the power to her home was cut by a Mercury Energy contractor because of an overdue power bill.
Mr Williams is a director at MainPower, a South Island lines company which is a customer of Mighty River Power, the parent company of Mercury Energy.
Main Power owns 77 per cent of Vircom, the company contracted by Mercury Energy to cut off power to the Muliaga's house.
Judge MacLean said he and Mr Williams had attended school together from the age of 11 and had been friends ever since, more than 50 years.
Judge MacLean said his friend's position would not influence him in carrying out his responsibilities as a coroner.
The hearing, which was scheduled to be take the entire day, was only partially heard when new information, researched and presented by the Muliaga family was presented.
Among the new information disclosed today was MainPower and Vircom shared the same premises.
It was revealed Mr Williams also sits on the New Zealand Business Council for Sustainable Development alongside Mighty River Power chief executive Doug Heffernan.
Lawyers for the other parties approached the family's lawyer Olina Woodroffe at an adjournment and said after hearing the new information they agreed Judge MacLean should withdraw from the inquest.
Judge MacLean then told the hearing he would step aside.
Spokesman for the Muliaga family Brendan Sheehan told NZPA he was disappointed the parties who knew of the relevant information had not revealed it themselves.
"All we want is an enquiry free of the perception of bias."
Mr Sheehan said the family's objection to Judge MacLean was never personal.
"All we wanted was a fresh pair of eyes."
An inquest into Mrs Muliaga's death will held in May , once Judge MacLean, as Chief Coroner appoints a replacement to preside over the inquest.
- NZPA
