In my letter to the editor of 25 June, I specifically challenged your editorial claims about mangroves and their benefits, namely that, and I paraphrase, mangroves promoted increased bird life, mangroves promoted increased fish life, people opposed mangroves for aesthetic reasons and the impact of the mangroves was overstated. While I conceded that mangroves can prevent erosion, I thought it important to point out that while your other claims may well be valid in some parts of the world, they certainly do not apply to all Tauranga estuaries. In response to my letter you said in your editorial of 25 June that I had taken the 'bait”. Yes, it seems I certainly did. I confess that I really did think that the above claims were views you held, but am happy to accept from your editorial comment that they were in fact 'bait” and therefore presumably not to be taken at face value. I am pleased that many readers took your advice and read my letter, as this enabled them to find out what the letter actually said, rather than rely on a report or a misrepresentation of what the letter said, and I have consequently received much support. I continue to commend you for your policy of not censoring letters that are sent to you for publication.
R.Rimmer, Tauranga