KEY POINTS:
Here is another selection of Your Views:
Nayan Dhanji
Looks to me like the primeminister is just trying get more votes and trying to spin this in Labours favour now that she has to defend the Mangere electorate. She doesn't seem to have anything specific she can say about the energy company being at fault apart from "stop digging". Typical smoke screen from the prime minister who throws mud but has no real facts to back up the insinuation.
Melissa
As my daughter stated 'mum if you could not breath and were dieing I would find the strength to carry you to a neighbour who was home and plug you in until we got the power back on! I am not heartless, but are we seeing just another place blame situation with $$$ in their eyes? There is a rule for all, pay your power bill or have it cut off.Simple.I see Mercury at no fault.
Paul
This is all about b Helen, and that is so sad, and so wrong.A family is grieving about losing their mother, leave them in peace, and let them grieve, don't antagonise the situation. I wonder had this tragedy not of occurred in Mangere, would Helen get involved, I don't think so. I mean after the Taito Philip Field fiasco, the opening on the new Labour Office in Mangere, this is her sad sad opportunity to lift her and Labour's profile in an electorate that's had more than its fair share of controversy.Desperate Helen, Sad Helen
Dave
Typical Clark poking her nose in where it isnt warranted.Lets face it old people probably die every year in Auckland due to been to worried about turning on their heater to keep warm in winter.This country is a absolute disgrace and its high time we got off our backsides and did something about it.
Richard
It saddens me that with a police investigation going on. The prime minister cannot butt out and let the investigation run without giving her uneducated guesses of what happened. Helen wait for the results of the investigation. Pity you can't visit the houses of elderly who go without heating in winter because the price of state owned electrical companies is outrageous.
Graeme
How is it that Nanny Helen refused to comment on indiscretions by David Benson-Pope, Philip Taito Field and speeding motorcades because these were subject to a police investigation, but trumpets her populist opinion in these similar circumstances ? The word 'transparent' does not do her character justice.
Suzy
I recall a day when I was at home alone at around lunchtime and a Mercury Energy contractor turned up on the doorstep announcing that he had arrived to cut off our power. With no unpaid bills to our customer account and evidence on our most recent bill that we were in fact in credit, it was clear that there was a mistake. The contractor however blatantly refused to look at the bills, speak to the account holder on the phone or listen to my pleading for him to not disconnect the power because it was a mistake. He was in fact rude, stubborn and pigheaded and would only tell me that he was "just doing his job" and "acting under instruction from his supervisors". It was futile for me to try and get this man to see reason as he clearly wasn't listening. In the end my stepdad had to leave work and drive home as this stupid contractor was climbing up the pole, and threaten to sue if he went ahead and cut the power off. Thankfully for us we averted the inconvenience of having our power cut off mistakenly. The family in Mangere however were pleading to avoid more than just an inconvenience, they were pleading for their Mother's life. It is because I have experienced Mercury's blatant disregard for their customers voices that I feel such anger about the tragedy that has no needlessly unfolded in this case. Mercury should be ashamed.
Hayden
When are people going to start taking responsibility for their own lives?. I am sick of everytime something bad happens, there has to be an enquiry to find out who is to blame and if its not clear then there is a witch hunt to find the best match. It seems to me no one is allowed to have accidents anymore. I for one do not want to be wrapped up in cotton wool and have the government looking out for my every move that is coming dangerously close to communism. I don't want to sound insensitive but when you have been sent letters warning that you need to pay or your service will be stopped dont blame the service provider. And it not like this happened immediately after the power was cut off if they were afraid of the cost of the ambulance 3 hours is enough time to come up with some alternate solution.
Rebecca
Wow. Auntie Helen must really be scared about the polls. Especially if she is resorting to this!
As she was so ill, where should we look as to why she was at home in that condition? What critical medical equipment has no contingency operation, what if there had been a power blackout, or it had stopped working - the plan? Where was the welfare state? Perhaps Helen might have good cause to lay the blame at the door of the SOE - rather than her government.
Andy
Is there anything Helen won't do to get her popularity back. Quick, find some babies to kiss.
AG
Why does Helen Clark even need to get involved? Tragically people die every day. Did Helen Clark go and visit the family of the two girls needlessly run over...I don't think so. Or what about the family of the man murdered by Burton a few months back.All Helen Clark is after is brownie points at a time when the Labour Party popularity is basically nil.As tragic as this is, only the family is to blame. If they had paid their bills just live every other family in NZ had to do then all would have been fine.You can't blame Mercury just because they didn't want to call an ambulance. Mercury is a business. If you don't pay your bills then you get cut off. it's not like they just turn up and cut the cables, plenty of notice would have been given. And as for the media, it is obvious you are aiming for a headline and nothing else. It was not a life support system the lady was on. It was to 'support' her breathing, not breath for her. How about everyone just wait til the facts come out before crucifying people.
Sara Delmore
Helen Clark makes me sick, She is seizing on this as an opportunity to boost her ratings, she is revolting and the family needs to confess the truth. The contractor is an electrician not a doctor, and if the woman didn't tell him that she needed the oxygen then how is he to know, Helen you need to be ousted next election, political mileage is not going to be made out of this.
Tree H
We're been talking about this at work and everyone is at odds. One thing I do agree with is that people shouldn't blame the contractor that turned of the power. He was just doing his job. He's being used as a scapegoat. In our jobs we do things because we have to...not because we want to. Yes he had a choice, but how was he to know that this woman was going to die. Mercury need to look at the way they handle overdue accounts especially if these people made payments, even though it was late. Money was still coming in to pay it. I mean they may of not paid it up to date but I am positive with time they would've caught up with it. Secondly people are taking a swipe at the sons for not taking the initiative for phoning the ambulance. Culturally and respectfully they obeyed their mother's wishes and it would be embarrassing to ask the neighbours and other family members to assist with their power problem. Her death I see as a sad accident. I am sure Mrs Muliaga didn't think she was going to die only until the last minutes.It's a sad wake up call to Mercury to set up proper protocol on disconnections instead of jumping the gun over accounts that are only over $100 overdue. You would think this family was $500 overdue. It goes to show when it comes to business its all about the money not about people.
The Third Person
What a wonderful 'Christian' country this: a power company could seem to be partially responsible for a lovely woman dying and the Prime Minister suggests the family retain a lawyer. What place is this? America? And we all know who wins don't we when lawyers are involved.The Lawyers! So why doesn't the power co do the decent 'Christian' thing and give this poor family a decent settlement and pay funeral costs. And while they are about it, why don't they and a few other large companies start a 'pro bono' scheme where they give, yes 'give' some of the poor, free services for say, three months and then give some others some 'free' services for three months and so on...Or are their bottom lines just so sacrosanct.
S
It seems to me Helen Clark is exploiting this family for publicity in the wake of poor polling results, and that's really sad. Miss Clark has abandoned her usual tactful reserved approach to things. What's the next Tui ad? It's just Mid-Term Blues. Yeah Right.
Lars
Stop blaming the contractor Stop blaming Mercury.This is now looking like its all about a compensation issue.The family can smell money ,lawyers can smell the money and are trying to find someone to blame. The family had multiple chances to save their mother .They never took any of these chances and she died as a result of her families inaction.Their lack of action after the power was cut off is the main reason she died. What would her family have done if their was a power cut for 4 hours like last year? If anyone is to be charged it should be her family for not providing her with the necessities of life.Why Helen Clark is getting involved I dont know it seems like political grandstanding shame on her for using this tragedy to try and lift her ratings in the opinion polls.
Valerie
I'm wondering what would have happened if the power went off under different circumstances ie an accident car hitting a pole etc. Is there no device on the machine to cover these eventualities? I feel sorry for the family but we must know all the details.
Treasure
Just because this is a big business is no reason that they should not be paid. How many other businessrs do these people owe money to???? They are well fed with all the toys - computer, guitar etc so they should prioritize and pay the essentials first.
Annette
I don't understand how anyone can be so cold and put profit before peoples lives? It just doesn't make any sense at all!My deepest condolences to her family.
Nafu
This action it very stupid,,especially when it comes to a situation that you stand between life and death . I felt very sad when I heard this news,,I think this news is spreading all around the world and it gives the picture of New Zealand of how they handle the pacific island people. I hope this is not a discrimination action to the pacific island people.
Heather
Common sense should have prevailed. But it is too common that people in this day and age are not able to think for themselves. The contractor saw it as just 'doing his job' and not thinking for himself. It was clearly a life or death situation - what was he thinking? He wasn't
Chpper
I can't believe the heartless messages . Shame on you Kiwis! A woman and mother is dead and some people think this is ok because she should have paid her power bill! Where is your compassion? Our country is heading for the pits if it's full of people like you. The fact is our society and it's lack of moral fibre leads to these situations and views. I think the head of Mercury Energy should do the honourable thing and resign immediately, and set a proper example of how to act instead of passing the buck.
Max
After all the good things the Clark Labour Govt has achieved, will they be remembered for "failing to provide the basics for life to the most vulnerable?"
Ian
Whilst her death is a tragedy, I cannot help thinking what would have happened to her if there was a natural power cut in the middle of the night? Her equipment should either have had battery/generator back-up, or she should have been in hospital. Why was the medical services not contacted straight away? I think there are too many questions left unanswered before our "glorious" politicians all clamored in to try gain some cheap publicity!
Liz
I wholeheartedly agree with Conrad's viewpoints. Mrs Muliaga probably already felt like she had burdened her family enough with the power being cut, and did not want to worry her kids even more by getting an ambulance in. Its easy enough for people that don't know the culture to judge from the outside...they don't complain when things like this go wrong, they don't turn around and blame the government for everything that goes wrong in their lives! It sounded like this family were trying to make ends meet...maybe if they were all sitting around at home not working, I may feel differently...but its sounds to me like Mr Muliaga was out working hard - sick wife and all. Some people would use that as an excuse to turn around and say, 'well, my wife's sick, I can't be bothered working, so I'll just stick my hand out and get free money'.which is what a lot of people do in our country and I'm sick of that too!! But, that's another issue. Mercury are lucky they are not in the US, because they would have the pants sued off of them!
pete
Well at least with Helen the lynch mob now has a leader. Can we at least wait for a cause of death and please please, Reporters of New Zealand stop referring to a home oxygen concentrator as a life support machine or ventillator. Its not. it is designed to provided additional O2 to help with symptoms and is often only used 16 hours or less out of 24.
Candice
Who would I blame? The media! The story becomes international headlines and Helen Clark has to appease the situation so that NZ is seen as helping the little guys against the big bad power company. The family are responsible for this death, and them alone, if the power was essential for running the oxygen machine, they should have paid the bill. If the power had gone off because of a local power cut, who would they blame then? This is the media blowing a story out of proportion before being provided with all the facts. The family does not deserve compensation as they did not do everything in their 'power' to save this woman's life.
Ted (Hong Kong)
Incredible tragedy occurred in New Zealand. Are the Kiwi cold blooded and became robots ? I just could not accept this tragic story taken place in Auckland where the people are described as friendly with helpful. Mercury Energy certainly deserves the blame. So far Mercury Energy has given no apology or actions to alleviate the grief of the victim's family. Shame on Mercury Energy !!
Sarah Jane
I think the contractor did the right thing. The family had 3 hours between the power being turned off and her passing away. Why didn't they take her to the hospital? On the news last night, one of the sons said she didn't want to go to the hospital there for she obviously wanted to die. If I was in the sons shoes that was home at the time of the contractor coming to turn the power off I would have called that ambulance asap. How would she have lived if there was a power cut? She shouldn't have been at home if she was that sick, and like the hospital said that machine is not for 24/7 use. I am with the power company on this case. I do feel for the family about there loss but as the son said last night she did not want to go.
Denny
Let's get this right. A person died for $168.00.1. The person who made the decision to disconnect the power...made that choice, unfortunately it was the wrong choice. 2. Mercury Energy's response is we are yet to get the facts of the matter, which means, we need to cover our backsides!3. Misinformation, bigots and racist comments blame a grieving family for there loss of their ill mum/wife...shame on you! I bet you even consider yourselves decent kiwis!! What happens next is what matters. The CEO of Mercury Energy should take full responsibility for the company especially when they failed to acknowledge the family again on the same day/evening and deigned them power which would of provided some comfort...you think! Most decent people wouldn't be so mean-spirited to keep them in the dark? As for the contractor, maybe some compassion too, retraining, a bit of guidance and support because it's not easy to admit to making a mistake of this severity and also have to deal with the on-going trauma. Maybe Mercury can find some money to contribute to the contractors immediate counselling? It's pretty simple people...as far as Mercury Energy is concerned,a life only costs is $168, Shame on you Doug Heffernan, Mercury Energy's owner Mighty River Power, you gotta go!
David Brown
I cannot find a more repugnant example of corporate arrogance that that of the actions of the contractors for Mercury energy. Such blatant disregard for human life and distain for vulnerable customers is nothing less than absolutely appalling, disgusting and totally unacceptable. For a person in a professional position to not accept a valid reason (such as a person sitting in front of him with an oxygen mask attached to their face) and hide behind the instructions and work processes is the lowest form of cowardice\stupidity I have ever heard of before. Such dangerous idiots should be held to account for the irresponsible attitudes practiced by NZ corporates. Nothing less than criminal charges laid against these bullies is appropriate.
Dave
The Prime Minister should keep her nose out of it. Why is it that she feels the need to comment on everything that happens in the country I guess it has something to do with the fact that the state of the power industry in NZ is Labours fault and she feels guilty about it. Just as she must feel equally guilty that her government and their policies are the reason these people can not pay their power bill. Maybe some taxcuts or raising of the thresholds may have helped... hey but at least we have a surplus bigger than Australias.
Denise
he family need to take responsibility for this, if it was my mother I would call an ambulance whether she wanted me to or not, and surely if she was expected back at work next month she would need to be able to breathe without an oxygen machine, this lady was very overweight and needed to get healthy, the family had plenty of time to get help.
Dr G.
As a medical professional I would like to comment on the recent tragedy that is being reported in the news. It is very sad that this family has lost their mother, however I do not feel that it is fair to blame the power company, let alone launch a police investigation. This lady was clearly very unwell at the time of her death, however one has to question exactly how ill she was and whether her death was a direct result of the lack of oxygen, or whether this simply hastened it. I also wonder, if their mother was so unwell, why the family did not call an ambulance and take her back to hospital, where they do have power and therefore an oxygen machine. I do not want to belittle the tragedy that this family is living though, however I do think we need to be careful and make sensible, informed decisions, before we jump to the conclusion that "the evil big power company is responsible for murder".
Reece F
To "Fed Up (Tokoroa)" - nice work, I couldn't have worded what life is all about better if I tried.
Craig
Has Mercury never heard of the phrase the buck stops here? The buck stops with them and they should stop trying to squirm out of their responsibilities, own up and apologise.
Dee
This is a tragedy- but the blame cannot be laid on Mercury Energy. Why did the family not have back-up portable oxygen? Why did they not get help for their mother sooner? I find this fact disgraceful! If she was my mother, I would have asked for help as soon as the contractor left in fact as soon as the warning sounded on her oxygen supply- I would have done everything I could, to get help for her. The solution to this problem is education. Family members are either not aware of the seriousness of somebody on oxygen supply- so maybe when a family member is put on life supporting oxygen supply- the whole family should be educated on what to do e.g. when a situation like this occurs. It is a pity that it happened my heart goes out to the family- but also to Mercury Energy who are now undeservingly portrayed as monsters.
Dale
It's bad enough that we've had to be subjected to unprofessional and hysterical reporting from mainstream media TV3 and John Campbell in particular - but I'm ashamed that our nation's leader, Prime Minister Helen Clark, has joined the lynch-mob before a formal investigation by police and the coroner is completed. She should have acknowledged the tragedy, and displayed leadership by calling for calm until all the facts are known - instead of leaping in for political expediency. Obviously she has not learned from her mistakes in the Taito Field fiasco. It is disappointing also to see National's Gerry Brownlee take the same tack. At least Mercury Energy's parent company CEO Doug Heffernan is keeping his head when all around others are losing theirs.
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