Invercargill's new city slogan: How it compares to others

The Invercargill City Council has unveiled its new branding package, along with a new city slogan: "Dream Big".

The new logo is an 'I' crafted out of the word 'Invercargill'.

The stylised 'I' is then used to build phrases, such as 'I baked this', which could also be read as 'Invercargill baked this'.

Invercargill/I baked this.
Invercargill/I baked this. Photo credit: Supplied

It's a nod to some of Southland's more prominent figures including Burt Munro, Bill Richardson, Suzanne Prentice and the city's legendary Mayor Tim Shadbolt.

"The new brand is something all New Zealanders will respect and admire," Invercargill City Council centre coordinator Kari Graber says.

"It's a seismic shift from the vulnerability of being without a brand, or other suggestions such as Invergiggle, which were not appropriate."

More than 300 local businesses were consulted to give their input into the $150,000 rebrand, which aims to "reinvigorate" the central city.

The southern city has had a long string of slogans, none of which quite managed to stick.

It started off as the "City Of Water And Light", before becoming "Where Dreams Come True". Last year it donned the one-word "Friendly" brand, which didn't sit well with councillors and subsequently fizzled out.

But it's far from the only New Zealand town to have branding dramas. Here are some of the more questionable town slogans in the country's history.

Dunedin

Dunedin started off as "I Am Dunedin", before switching to "It's All Right Here" (which many read as "It's alright here"), before giving up on slogans and sticking to just "Dunedin", written in a medieval font.

Featherston

"If you lived here, you'd be home by now."

Timaru

The Timaru District Council went through a rebrand in 2016, and an online poll which suggested changing the slogan to "Timaz Hard" received overwhelming support, with more than half of the voters giving it their favour.

While it wasn't chosen, "Timaz Hard" basically still stands as the unofficial motto.

Naseby

"2000ft Above Worry Level"

Wairoa

Wairoa's slogan is "The Way NZ Used To Be" - whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is up for interpretation.

Hamilton

Hamilton started out confident, donning the slogan: "Where It's Happening". In the 1990s they changed that to "More Than You Expect". Now it's just "Hamilton".

Matamata

"You Matter In Matamata"

Hutt Valley

In 1995, "Right Up My Hutt Valley" became the official slogan. However, it only lasted a few years before being replaced.

Dannevirke

Dannevirke is named after an extensive Viking age fortification line in Denmark. However, the slogan "Take A Liking To A Viking" was criticised for being too raunchy.

Tauranga

In the 1990s the town took on the slogan "Tempt Me Tauranga". It has since been changed.

Kerikeri

"So Nice They Named It Twice" became the slogan after an anonymous backpacker wrote the words in a hostel's visitor book in the 1980s.

Christchurch

The Christchurch slogan was "Fresh Every Day" before becoming the "Garden City".

Porirua

This one wasn't a slogan but Mayor Nick Leggett referred to the town as "P-Town" multiple times in 2012, not realising the connotation it may have with methamphetamine.

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