The current controversy around Western Bay mayoral candidate Ms Margaret Murray- Benge highlights a disturbing association she has with Dr Don Brash and the organisation known as Hobsons Pledge.

This organisation of like thinking people is distinctly anti Maori, or at the very least anti those organisations that assist Maori in reasserting their fundamental rights.

In what could best be described as a frustrated attempt to impose equality, both social and political, Ms Murray- Benge, along with others, is on record, on numerous occasions, opposing Maori aspirations.

How then can Ms Murray- Benge now claim to be impartial? She, again, is on record claiming Maori cannot be trusted to keep their word from one day to the next. She also claims, without any evidence that Maori may well claim back all of Tauranga.

Such racially charged tropes are unacceptable in any representative in an area such as the Bay of Plenty.

The worst possible risk to the Western Bay of Plenty District Council will be the introduction of the kind of political tribalism represented by Ms Murray- Benge and others. Let's drop the extremism. Racial harmony depends on much more than the kind of tokenism Margaret represents.

It is doubtful that Margaret is truly racist, but like many others of her generation the use of subtle put down is endemic. There is no place for it in any circumstance, particularly when we consider Maori are unable to elect their own representatives and have to rely on people like Margaret to preserve their best interests. It's an awesome responsibility, that I doubt Margaret can truly live up to.

Robin Bell, Omanawa