Tauranga Mayor Stuart Crosby says a slogan for the city will emerge once residents understand who they are and what the city should represent.

'I think we need to understand who we are and what we are and an identity will come forward from that,” says Stuart.

'My take on it has been, and I have said it before, I am personally not into those types of manufactured slogans.

'I think our national identity is becoming one built around lifestyle and quality of life, both from a natural environment perspective; great place, great people.”

The slogan debate, which was revived by The Weekend Sun and SunLive following its failure in the 1990s as ‘Tempt me Tauranga' has been aired on TV One's Breakfast programme and featured in the NZ Herald's ‘sideswipe'.

The slogan debate was also discussed today on The Rock radio station.

'It's a great discussion and let's keep it up, let's continue it,” says Stuart.

'We've had the interesting ones, and good on The Weekend Sun and SunLive for pushing that. Let's just keep on seeing what comes out of it.”

A city slogan has not been discussed by the council itself, says Stuart.

'We have been focusing on our financial situation at the moment, that's our priority.

'We haven't actually discussed it, but it is a healthy discussion.

'As the mayor, not on behalf of the council, I think it's a great community discussion.”