Around 50 people gathered outside Mercury Energy’s Auckland headquarters last night to tell the state-owned power company it is to blame for the death of Folole Muliaga, not the contractor who disconnected the power.

Mrs Muliaga’s son in law, Brenden Sheehan, flanked by his 11-year-old daughter, gave an emotional address to the crowd, saying it is a very hard time for the family.

“The children are distraught, as is the father.”

Like many poor families they were struggling to get by on a low income and they had fallen behind a bit on their power bill, he said.

He says the family is not blaming the contractor at the centre of the controversy.

“This isn’t about any individual this is about this company.”

Joe Carolan (right) says Mercury Energy management are to blame for the death.

Reverend Taleni Seu, victim support councillor, says the family is not blaming the contractor.

Brenden and Lupe Sheehan thanked the protesters for their support.

Power was cut off to the Muliaga home after the family were unable to pay their $168.40 power bill.

Without power, Mrs Muliaga, a 44-year-old Mangere mother of four, was unable to use a machine that assisted her breathing. She died soon after the power was cut.

Reverend Taleni Seu, who has counselled the family, says this should not happen to any family.

“They’re a good family and they made an effort to pay.

“They’ve got pride – they don’t want to put the burden on others.

“The family doesn’t blame the contractor - it’s nothing to do with the man who turned the power off. It’s Mercury Energy.”

Protest organiser Joe Carolan says Mercury Energy is putting profits before people.

“South Auckland is overrun with money lenders holding people to ransom, and here you have a state-owned enterprise acting like one of these thugs.”