I'm a fan of museums but there is a price to pay. Like many people, my budget won't stretch to support every show in town.

Here's my master plan if you want a museum. Form a charitable trust. Anyone interested can donate. Larger businesses and TECT can donate on the basis of naming rights. All monies have to be paid up front, not pledged. This way money is invested and funds will double. Fundraising would be ongoing with regular raffles and other small projects such as galas and concerts. A sort of ‘Friends of the Museum'.

I would also expect anyone pressuring council to build the museum to show they have contributed in some financial way. Council should not be involved other than making a goodwill donation and funding maintenance.

In the meantime I would like to see displays set up in prominent buildings to show some of our collection. This could be changed quarterly as a return on our current $500,000 annual maintenance fee. There could be a treasure trail map for people to follow.

Along with this, an audit and cull of items in storage that have no relevance to our area. Most will never see the light of day in a museum that opens anyway.

P Dillon, Tauranga (Abridged).