KEY POINTS:
It was not a stellar example of a PR exercise in contrition - arrive just as the family are leaving for the police station, mill around aimlessly outside for two hours in business suits and lavalavas, then intercept the family while the PM waits in their house.
Three
days after Folole Muliaga's death, the power company surprised the family by paying a visit to their modest Mangere home.
The theme was Pacific: Mercury Energy general manager James Moulder and Doug Heffernan, chief executive of parent company Mighty River, wore lavalavas over their business suits, while Mighty River chairwoman Carole Durbin opted for a Pacific-looking skirt.
The scene was set for the ifoga, the Samoan custom where the wrongdoer appears before the wronged.
Traditionally, the executives could have waited outside for days while the family deliberated inside the fale before even inviting them inside.
But this was New Zealand, and the Muliagas are generous people.
As the Prime Minister walked past the power company contingent without even so much as a glance, family representatives were already moving to invite them inside.
They sat in the lounge on mats, the company on one side, the family on the other.
Thus they began, in a mixture of Samoan and English. Fine mats and koha to help cover funeral expenses exchanged hands.
In between there were tears: from Ms Durbin and from Lopaavea Muliaga, Folole's husband.
Dr Heffernan thanked them for their generosity in accepting them into their house, and Ms Durbin choked back tears as she expressed her remorse over what had happened.
Family member Papaliitele Lafulafu Peo accepted the company's "spirit of remorse".
The exchange took no longer than 30 minutes. At the end, they were all offered an orange, cordial-like drink.
It emerged later that the company had given the family $10,000.
Folole Muliaga's nephew Brenden Sheehan said the family accepted the executives' show of remorse as "human beings".
"As managers of companies, they should be sacked."
LAVALAVAS RIGHT THING TO WEAR
Power company chiefs' wearing of lavalavas to the Muliaga home would be interpreted in Samoan culture as an appropriate gesture, says the Pacific Co-operation Foundation.
Mercury Energy general manger James Moulder and Mighty River Power chief executive Doug Heffernan wore lavalavas over their suits when they visited the Muliagas yesterday and gave fine mats, and money for funeral expenses.
"Putting a lavalava on over their business suits is an appropriate gesture," said foundation executive director Vince McBride. "They have done the right thing."
