I found the letter by L Askin (The Weekend Sun, February 7) sad, deeply disturbing, and contrary to the objective of trying to build relationships between all races with a view to enhancing our collective future.

Even more disturbing, the letter was little more than a personal attack on Buddy Makaere, demonstrating a total lack of understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi, of the Otamataha Trust and of any local history including the work done over recent years by the Anglican Synod.

There have been many public meetings held over the last couple of years by a range of parties, involving and including the Otamataha Trust, the Anglican Church, and Tauranga City Council, with respect to The Elms and Mission Street.

If nothing else, a trip down Google Lane may have provided the writer with some illumination prior to putting pen to paper (or finger to a keyboard).

I respectfully suggest the writer tries to do better in future, and whilst I note The Sun did thankfully abridge the offending letter, my personal view is that somebody with at least a passing knowledge of local history, of the standing of the person criticised, and of the current status work by the Anglican Synod, The Otamataha Trust, Tauranga City Council, The Elms, the local Historical Society and others, should have probably consigned the letter to the rubbish bin.

In today's world there is no excuse for either the writing, or the publication of, letters of this nature which do absolutely nothing to enhance race relations.

Ngā mihi

Graeme Purches, Bethlehem (Abridged for length)