It never fails to amaze me how the brain synapses work at City Hall.

How did they fail to realise that a total fire ban policy that provides exemptions for hangis is simply racist, as Yvonne James so rightly points out (The Weekend Sun September 25)?

Surely they are not saying that a contained charcoal barbecue is more dangerous than a raging inferno heating hangi stones, but rather, that one culture is more important than others, so requiring special consideration.

If a total fire is appropriate then have a total fire ban.

To have exemptions for one culture only, is saying that the cultures of the rest of us aren't, it seems, valued enough to have exemptions. This does nothing for race relations.
If Tauranga City Council hadn't worked this out then some training in race relations is needed.

R Prince, Welcome Bay