Auckland Council is pondering whether to follow the move of three predecessor city councils and sign a declaration making it a City for Peace.
Speakers at a debate on the idea included members of a children's peace group, One People One Planet.
Ten-year-old George Shirtcliffe and Alida Newman, aged 13, were among those who urged the councillors to make a stand for the future.
But councillor Dick Quax described the debate as doing useless and unnecessary work and Cameron Brewer called the idea redundant.
The young speakers said the often rowdy debate made them unhappy, but are delighted the declaration idea will be further explored.
