It’s time to celebrate

It’s time to celebrate who we are, what we do, what we stand for.

We need to find a way of lifting ourselves up as a country, as cities and as regions. We all know its tough out there, we’ve seen the statistics, read the reports, seen the news. We also see it first hand in our daily lives, how life can be tough on our families, friends and colleagues.
But we have so much to also be thankful for and to celebrate. Positively builds energy, energy builds momentum, momentum builds success. So let’s focus on what’s good and make it great. Let’s focus on coming together and lifting each other up so we can all succeed regardless of who we are and what we do.

I recall back in the 1990’s when Wellington was one of the least attractive places in the country. Known as windy, cold and simply dreary…full of government bureaucrats.

But many knew there was more to Wellington and wanted more for it too. That’s when Absolutely Positively Wellington was born, backed by business leaders and the public office. This marked a turning point in Wellington’s identity, confidence, and direction. Five years later it was the coolest place to live, visit and do business, attracting cool people ……it (almost) lost its windy status.

So this is what Auckland now needs too. It is our biggest city and its impact on the rest of New Zealand is undeniable. But it needs its mojo back, people need to be proud to be Aucklanders, and the rest of the country need to be fond of its bigger sibling.

So let’s lift Auckland up, it’s got great people doing great stuff, there is much to celebrate. Yes there’s challenges to address, like everywhere else.

It’s time for Auckland to come together, amplify its greatness, celebrate its success, and embrace the opportunities ahead. This is the only pathway to putting the broken bits of the jigsaw back together, and part of a bigger, ambitious, and positive picture that enables Auckland to once again shine brightly.

And, if Auckland can rise up and do it, then so can the rest of us too.