Money Hungry Merciless Mercury Energy Kills

WHEN THE INVISIBLE HAND ROCKS
THE CRADLE: NEW ZEALAND CHILDREN
IN A TIME OF CHANGE

This paper investigates the impact of economic and social reforms in New
Zealand since the mid-1980s on the well-being of children. These reforms
were among the most sweeping in scope and scale in any industrialized
democracy. Their impact has not been systematically monitored by
government. The paper outlines the reforms and associated changes in the
situation of New Zealand children.
The reforms have not led to an overall improvement in the well-being of
children. There has been widening inequality between ethnic and income
groups which has left many Mäori and Pacific children, and children from
one parent and poorer families, relatively worse off.

http://www.unicef-icdc.it/publications/pdf/iwp93.pdf

"You know what's really disgusting? The number of people who have used this death to serve their own means."

There's a big difference between serving your own means (sic) and showing solidarity with the Muliaga family, and showing that the problems they faced are many low-paid workers. If you don't get the difference you weren't listening to what was being said.

In terms of the ambulance, hindsight's a wonderful thing, the family were very clear that it was dangerous to cut the power. The contractor should have thought for himself, and Mercury should have a more humane policy on disconnections which encouraged the contractor to think, not to just follow orders. John A.

Police investigating the death of south Auckland woman Folole Muliaga have been accused of institutionalised racism by her family.
FAMILY OFFER CONTRACTOR WHO CUT POWER FORGIVENESS ... PRIVATE SERVICE FOR POWER CUT VICTIM

Mrs Muliaga, 44, died last Tuesday three hours after power was cut to her Mangere home because of an overdue power account.

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."

He said while the family had been in New Zealand for six years, Samoan was their first language and they thought and mostly spoke in Samoan.

"They are thinking and speaking in Samoan and the police are speaking to them in English which I find appalling."

Mr Sheehan said when another family support member had to leave the police station to pick up her own children he (Mr Sheehan) was not allowed in.

"They told me no they had to interview them alone and I was not allowed in," he said.

He said the Samoan way was to bring the body home, to grieve and mourn and to have the funeral.

"I think there is a real problem with the way police deal with other cultures."

He said as Mrs Muliaga's body was being taken home yesterday, he received a telephone message from police saying he was expecting one of Mrs Muliaga's sons to be interviewed with a lawyer present and "could he come down to the police station that day.

"Obviously I didn't return the call but it's outrageous. These people are victims. What hope has any brown person got if they are a suspect in a case in this country.

"If they treat victims like this how do they treat suspects?"

Mr Sheehan said he was also "disgusted and appalled" that the police had apparently said publicly that no charges would be laid because Mrs Muliaga was a very sick woman.

He said the unnamed police source was quoted in The Press newspaper after police had earlier told him they would not comment publicly but then breached their own undertaking by doing so.

"Of course she was a very sick woman. That is why we have gone to the press.

"But it appears (if you are sick) police seem to think your life is worth nothing."

He said he was "furious" and did not want to speak yet to police about it but the family now wanted a fresh police team to take over the inquiry.

"I think the investigation is so compromised at this stage that it cannot possibly produce a fair and balanced report."

The officer in charge of the inquiry, Detective Inspector Jim Gallagher, refused to comment on the claims today.

"I haven't had that conveyed to me so I am not prepared to make any comment about it.

"I am not entering into some media debate over police procedural inquiry matters.

"If he wishes to make those views known to the police then clearly we will listen but there is a process and that is what we would recommend," Mr Gallagher said.

Mr Sheehan said the family was coping with their grief but it would be after the funeral and the public service on Wednesday that it would fully sink in.

"Mercury Energy should be renamed Murder Energy."

WOW. That's sure to lend credibility to your cause.

The left column is overlapping with the middle on the front page and I have an Aero Screen but still noticing the overlap.

What is this seemed obsession to stand at the defence of bloated faceless state monopolies? I didn't realise they were in so much dire need to have the little people stand at ready, to protect them against possible misplaced angst.

The Govt back in the day carved their power supply business up into a dozen or so (probably in order to privatise them all) supplier corporations, of which 80% of these power suppliers are still owned by the NZ Government ----- the ultimate owner, at the top of the corporate ladder and therefore the one ultimately responsible for this death and probably others as well.

Mercury energy are not exactly up there in the sustainability ranks either. I think it is shocking how this could happen.

because it was against there religion

The contractor killed Folole Muliaga by cutting her power instead of telling the company first.

I for one do not blame Mercury Energy for Mrs Muliaga's death, The family knew the power was going to be turned off a long time before. I do blame her husband for not providing the proper care for his wife,and should be charged with that crime. Its funny how they paid the bill after she died.
Regards Colin.

Quote from Mr Sheehan "When one marries into a Samoan family one is fully accepted as a member of that family, and assumes the responsibilities that come with this acceptance".
So, if communication was at the root of this unfortunate event, why did he not have their phone reconnected? Why was he not talking to the power company directly? Did he ask the medical service providors where the back up O2 bottles were? I suspect that even he did not know what the situation was, and that's what happens when you decide to live in a foreign country without language skills.