Shelley Sutherland spoke at the council meeting yesterday demanding it make the proclamation, following the Dunedin City Council doing so on Tuesday.
Ms Sutherland said the council should stand with those who ''treasure our natural environment''.
She hoped it would inform the council's policy-making.
''Use that role of a community leader.''
It was ''not an exaggeration'' that inaction could lead to the possible collapse of human civilisation due to pressure on food production.
She was joined by biologist Jennifer Shulzitski, of Extinction Rebellion Otepoti, who said, as with alcoholics, the first step was to ''admit we have a problem''.
''The short-term benefits of making the investments are going to save us money long term whereas, if we do nothing now, we are going to pay later on.''
Cr Bryan Scott questioned what the benefit of declaring a crisis would be.
''Some are arguing what is needed is a measured response not an emergency.''
However, later in the meeting he referenced the issue and said the council needed ''to act''.
Council chairman Stephen Woodhead said it already had climate change considerations at the centre of its work and would consider the request at a later date.
Seven New Zealand councils have declared a climate emergency.
