Coroner starts hearing into Muliaga power death

The coroner's hearing into the events which saw an Auckland woman on an oxygen machine die after her power was turned off because of an unpaid bill begins today.

Folole Muliaga, 44, died last May after the power to her home was cut by a Mercury Energy contractor because of an overdue power bill of $168.40. The power cut stopped Mrs Muliaga's oxygen machine and she died a few hours later.

The contractor who disconnected the power, who has name suppression, is expected to be a key witness.