Rogers Rabbits (June 15), like you I am against a grandiose museum. Twenty to 30 odd years ago the Pioneer Village was a thriving entity, but suddenly lost all/most of its volunteers. I heard on the grapevine that somebody from the council decided it should become more business-like, upset the volunteers, and its spirit seemed to fade away.

I believe it should revert back to being a proper Pioneer Village along the lines of the Tawhiti Museum in Taranaki.

It could then incorporate the Battle of Gate Pa – a vital part of the Maori and European history of the settlement of Tauranga and surrounding area.

Perhaps if you were to suss out Tawhiti Museum – or better still pay it a visit – you would see the potential of the Pioneer Village and could persuade others to look at a more realistic way of presenting a ‘different' type of museum.

Now we have all these tourist liners calling, Tauranga should be very interested in having its own tourist attraction.

L Taylor, Pyes Pa.