A gravely ill New Zealand mother of five died after her oxygen machine stopped when the power company cut off her electricity over a £62 outstanding bill.
The family of Folole Muliaga said that a contractor from Mercury Energy stood in front of the 44-year-old nursery teacher after he cut the power supply and, with the alarm of her oxygen machine sounding, said that he was only doing his job.
Mrs Muliaga, whose four children range from five to 18 years, had been recently diagnosed with heart and lung disorders and had been issued with the machine by her district hospital.
Her eldest son, Ietitaia, said that he was with his mother when the energy company contractor came to the family’s south Auckland home yesterday afternoon over the outstanding bill, which amounted to 168 New Zealand dollars.
He said his mother, who was sitting alongside her oxygen machine, had begged the energy company contractor to give her another chance and restore the power. But the contractor responded that he had a job to do.
“She said, 'Give us a chance, I need the oxygen',” said her son. “But he (the contractor) said he was doing his job that was why he cut the power off.”
Within ten minutes, Mrs Muliaga began to suffer a severe headache, and told her son that she could not see. Initially she asked her son not to call an ambulance, despite her increasing difficulties with breathing.
Then she collapsed.
Her son said: “I went straight to call an ambulance. When I came back I saw my other brother crying . We couldn’t wake her up. She seemed to be dead.”
The grieving family spent a night without power until the energy company restored electricity supplies the following day. Police have begun an investigation into the death.
A relative, Brenden Sheehan, said that Mrs Muliaga’s reluctance to seek help was typical of Pacific Island mothers who wished to avoid upsetting their children.
He said he was outraged and disgusted that Mercury Energy had cut off the family’s power without giving Mrs Muliaga a chance to make good the outstanding bill.
“Particularly when I have looked at her power bill, and see that there have been two payments made in the last month,” Mr Sheehan said. “And there is nothing in the (latest) bill about disconnection and it was only issued last Wednesday.”
He said Mrs Muliaga had been unable to work since February because of her illness, and her husband, Lopa, a chef’s assistant , had been working vastly reduced hours in order to care for his sick wife.
The family had moved to Auckland from Samoa about six years ago.
James Moulder, Mercury Energy’s general manager, claimed to Television New Zealand last night that the contractor who cut the power off had not been told by Mrs Muliago or her family of her medical condition.
Mr Moulder conceded that the family had recently been making progress payments toward their electricity bill, but said that the total amount outstanding had still been increasing each month.
He said that the bill had increased by 15 New Zealand dollars (£5) compared to the previous month, and that the energy company took action to stop people getting into increasing debt.
He offered his condolences. The company is now checking reports that it had been warned that Mrs Muliaga needed power for the oxygen machine.
Sue Bradford, a New Zealand Green party MP, led political outrage about the case, describing the power cut as “mercenary”.
She said: “Is there no social responsibility requirement? No code of conduct? Listening to the company spokesman, it would seem the company sees it as entirely the responsibility of the consumer to make contact, provide documentation and argue their right to live.”
The New Zealand First Party said that manslaughter charges should be considered in the case, while the New Zealand Maori Party suggested the introduction of laws that dealt with corporate manslaughter
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