Powerless in Auckland

Mercury Energy, not so proud sponsors of the 1998 "Queen Street" Blackout, have done it again.

This time it wasn't most of the Auckland C.B.D. that Mercury pulled the plug on. Just a single customer with an unpaid bill.

As in 1998 the news has spread all around the world and not in a good way.

The stories abound from the evocative She relied on an oxygen machine. The electricity firm cut off the power. Hours later she was dead to Power company in spotlight over death to this NZ Herald feature simply titled Power cut death.


While nearly every man and his dog, including Helen Clarke, our Prime Minister, is pointing the finger at Mercury, their sub-contractor and their poor dumb schmuck of an employee who may yet be up on manslaughter charges, this little item has appeared. Give us the facts on woman's death - oxygen patient.

So was Mercury really to blame or will the cannon of public opinion shift its aim to our much maligned health system or to the family who ultimately could have prevented it by ringing an ambulance sooner, running over to the neighbours with an extension lead or paying their overdue power bill?

No doubt one of the many inquires into Mrs Muliaga's death will come up with a scape goat or a large carpet to sweep it all under. Already the words "more legislation" have been mentioned.

One thing for sure. This will go on long after the funeral and long after we are all sick of it.

A bit like that six week power cut in 1998 so I am told.

Meanwhile all sorts of things will be snuck under the radar in the hope that the media and the public will still be looking the other way.

Thanks Mercury. Not.