Re ‘Vale Dame Susan' (The Weekend Sun, June 29).

I am probably as well placed as any to comment on Dame Susan's biases, if they indeed exist. As past chair of Auckland Regional Migrants Services Support Trust, (ARMS) of which Dame Susan is our patron, and as chair of Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust (TTW) in Tauranga Moana, I have had extensive dealings with our Dame.

She is extraordinarily valued by the multiple cultures that we deal with at ARMS, and indeed, seen as a champion for our migrants, particularly migrant women.

At TTW where our 'client' base is overwhelmingly Maori, she has fronted to many of our functions and being extremely well-received by the very varied group of people that attend these functions, both rich, but mostly poor.

Dame S says it as it is, and if that means jolting a few of the privileged in our communities, so be it. The minorities and disconnected that ARMS and TTW deal with on a daily basis don't really know about letters to the editor to defend our treasured Dame, who really doesn't need defending.
B Bryant, Chair, Te Tuinga Whanau Support Services Trust.