Prolific writer of letters to the editor, Tauranga man Ernie Izett, has died aged 91.

Ernest Massie Izett III provided many years of frank observation, controversy and sparked many debates in The Weekend Sun, and other newspapers around the country.

His daughter Janne Izett says her dad followed his father's tradition of writing letters to the paper. His father – EM Izett II, 1894-1982, age 88 – wrote many letters to the ‘Taranaki Daily News' and ‘New Zealand Herald'.

And Ernie's great grandfather, James Izett, was a journalist and author born in the 1830s and died in 1918, aged 83.

And while Ernie didn't work in the writing industry himself – he enjoyed diverse career of work from dairy farming to building, a curtain business with his wife, and much more.

'Dad had an active mind and was a prolific reader and writer,” says Janne. 'He returned from living in United States to his homeland New Zealand in 1999, and remained in Tauranga since that date until his death.”

Janne says her father loved to read The Weekend Sun, and wrote many letters. 'He was so proud to note that his daughter [me] had started to write a music column, in the family tradition!” Janne writes a weekly column in the entertainment section of The Weekend Sun under the name ‘GuitarGirl'.

'I remember taking him to visit No 1 The Strand many years ago, because he wanted to meet the editor, Brian Rogers, and shake his hand,” says Janne.

'He had gone through many things in his interesting life, and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.”