KEY POINTS:
Hundreds of family members and friends will today say a private farewell to wife and mother Folole Muliaga.
The death of Mrs Muliaga a few hours after the electricity was cut to her home and her oxygen machine has been a public tragedy.
But the traditional Samoan funeral service tonight will be a time for extended family and friends to say a quiet goodbye.
"My aunt's death has attracted enormous attention," said family spokesman Brenden Sheehan. "But it's extremely important that they say their goodbye in private. It's a fundamental part of the grieving process."
The details of the ceremony were still being worked out as Mrs Muliaga's body was returned to her family at their South Auckland home yesterday.
Scores of mourners were at the Scott Ave house in Mangere Bridge, and there were emotional scenes as Mrs Muliaga "came home".
A marquee covered tables and chairs on the front lawn, where younger generations played. At the back of the house, older family members and friends sat quietly.
Inside, hymns were played and some of the women sang along.
Shortly before 3pm, the hearse arrived, followed in convoy by six other vehicles.
The coffin, draped in white, was carried into the home and placed next to photographs of Mrs Muliaga and her family.
Her husband, Lopaavea, and 20-year-old son Ietitaia sat by the coffin, while other mourners sat nearby praying and singing hymns.
Younger son Des, 18, struggled to hide his emotions and had to be helped into the room, as others around him wept.
Mr Sheehan said it was incredibly difficult for Mr Muliaga and his family, "but there are a lot of people bonding together. Their love and strength will get them through."
Despite tonight's service being for family and friends only, hundreds of people are expected, including friends and family members from throughout the country.
Mrs Muliaga's father and two siblings are among at least a dozen family members who have travelled from Samoa.
A second funeral will be held on Wednesday at Mrs Muliaga's church, Samani Pulepule in Robertson Rd, and Mr Sheehan said it would be a public occasion with "everyone welcome".
"We have organised two funerals because of the public interest," he said. "It's important to the family to see that outpouring of support and they also want to invite anyone who wants to pay their respects."
* Mrs Muliaga had weakened heart muscles and, when she was discharged from Middlemore Hospital on May 11, she was given an electrically powered oxygen machine to help her breathe.
The power was cut off at the family home on May 29 because Mercury Energy said the Muliagas were overdue paying their bill.
Mrs Muliaga died a few hours later.
'CALLOUS' MERCURY HAS DAMAGED NEW ZEALAND SAYS PM
Prime Minister Helen Clark says the "callous" actions of Mercury Energy may have not only cost a woman her life but put New Zealand in a bad light internationally.
International coverage of Folole Muliaga's death had given a false impression of this country, she said.
"This is not New Zealand. This has never happened before and it seems an outrage to me that the callous actions of one contractor working for a company should throw our country's reputation down the drain."
Media organisations carrying the story ranged from CBS and the BBC to small US newspapers such as the Lompoc Record and the Biloxi Sun-Herald.
Cabinet meeting
The Cabinet will meet tomorrowto discuss whether there shouldbe tougher rules governing how electricity retailers operate.
Resignation in mind
Carole Durbin, chairwoman of Mercury's parent company, Mighty River Power, is thinking of resigning.
She said no one should die because of an inability to pay the power bill and the firm was doing everything it could to ensure it never happened again.
Ms Durbin also said Mighty River Power might discuss further compensation with the Muliaga family but that might depend on the outcome of a police inquiry.
Lawyer attacks report
The family's lawyer, Olinda Woodroffe, lashed out at a newspaper claim Mrs Muliaga's "days were numbered" by her medical condition.
Ms Woodroffe said the results of the autopsy were still not known and her illness would have been made a lot worse by the stress of having the power cut to her home.
The Herald on Sunday said the obesity-related heart and lung disease that was killing Mrs Muliaga was being kept at bay by a cocktail of powerful medicines - not the electricity-powered machine that helped her to breathe.
The paper said Mrs Muliaga had previously rejected drugs in favour of traditional Samoan healthcare.
Her use of medication was one focus of the police investigation.
