AOTEAROA Global Project

Folole Mliaga's husband Grieves.



Prime Minister Helen Clark..

Reaction to power cut tragedy

Anger grows at death

Grief following death

Mercury contractor distressed by death

Barbara Dreaver interviews Lopaavea Muliaga here



The grieving has begun by those who loved Falole Muliaga who died after her electricity was cut off, while Samoan political and community leaders are calling for those responsible to be held accountable.

Muliaga's colleagues at the Mangere church pre-school are struggling to understand the manner of her death - why Mercury Energy would disconnect the power of a woman on oxygen because of an unpaid bill.

Toniga Hewitt, a colleague of Muliaga at the pre-school says it is hard to explain to three-year-olds that their teacher is dead.

"People first not money first," says Reverend Petaia Lokeni, church minister. "That one hundred and something dollars will that affect millions and millions of profit?"

Another colleague, Fitu Tuivasa, says a lot of friends are angry that the company did not give the Muliaga's more of a chance to pay the bill.

Mercury Energy is well aware of the minefield of grief surrounding the Muliaga family.

"We are respecting the advice that we're getting from the Samoan community and from our own Samoan workforce in terms of the time and space they need to grieve," says Doug Heffernan of Mercury Energy.

In Samoa, the grieving has only just begun as Muliaga's own family can't believe the news from New Zealand.

And the Samoan government also wants answers.

Samoa deputy prime minister Misa Telefoni says in cases like this, leaders need to step up and act quickly.

"This time it was a Samoan, next time it could be a Maori."

Those who deal with needy families like Darryl Evans of Mangere Budgeting and Family Support Services couldn't agree more.

Recently one of his clients committed suicide the day after her power was disconnected.

"This lady has five children, a mountain of debt and really the straw that broke the camel's back was that her power was disconnected," Evans says.
Last year, Work and Income made advances of $12 million to power companies to stop low income families being cut off.
But now the focus is on the Muliaga's needs. Falole Muliaga has been a big part of the pre-school since it first opened just over a year ago. She recently took time off due to her sickness but staff were hoping to have her back next month
But that is not going to happen. Like Falole Muliaga's birth children, the children at the pre-school will grow up without her.

Source: One News

Kiaora folks members and friends,
This inane, large corporation tragedy has had me in a right pickle and wait up, its going to get worse...Rumour has it there is another case ..
Heads must roll for this, the CEO spokesperson who came out first for Mercury Energy
should be the first to go, saying they were not responsible is a statement the New Zealand public will not allow him to forget....outrageous.
To the Muliaga family my heart and thoughts are with you its just too sad and at this moment i feel sick to the bone to be a kiwi.. ....
Folks I'm going to have to leave it at that for now I can't see my keyboard......
To my Samoan brothers and sisters, my families condolences at this senseless loss...
See forum a bit later..cherio for now....