I had great fun recently kicking off the new Live Tall campaign both formally and also the same day with a walking trip through town taking the idea direct to the people.

I’m not sure that the television crew wanted the result they got from the public.

The public, and particularly younger people, just love the idea of “living tall’’ and seem to pick up on it instantly.

Which is exactly what I want in the way of a response to the idea and challenge to Cantabrians to Live Tall.

Live Tall is simply a call to us all to both aspire to live up to our own full potential, and to honour and respect those amongst us who are doing so.

It is a rallying point for all of us from all walks of life, culture, vocation and age who share a common sense of pride and spirit in themselves and where and how we live. It is a call to recognise that there can be both fun and pride to be found in doing our best with what we have.

The idea for Live Tall came about over the past few years as I realised that Christchurch and Canterbury have amazing success stories all over the place that publicly are neither told, nor saluted.

One of the greatest things about being Mayor is that you get to see, meet and hear these human success stories day after day.

The effect when you add all these inspiring encounters together is a real sense of both our huge potential, our great achievements and that this message has to be heard.

Our story, the Christchurch and Canterbury story, is one where people of all ages and skills are prepared to make the most of their potential and their lives.

It is an enormously positive story that in an increasingly competitive world we owe it to ourselves to make public.

It is worth reflecting on the growing reality that increasingly the wider world is starting to come here to learn how we do things, and why we do them so well. That includes the Christchurch City Council who as you know by now was recognised as the architects of the “world’s best run city’’ by American Governing magazine late last year.

Live Tall is an idea that will help us to publicly recognise some of the people and areas of excellence that have helped create this success story.

The main focus of the idea is firmly on the people and achievers of Christchurch and Canterbury.

Not just the usual traditional areas for recognition — in sport and business — but also in areas like health, heritage, art and culture, education and community. All of these sectors have great stories of people Living Tall for us to recognise and celebrate together.

Our future depends on turning attitudes around. We can do that by supporting and taking part in Live Tall.

For more information, call 03 379 5575 or visit the Mayor’s website at www.livetall.org.nz