"The list of things we love and cherish is long and almost endless and we’d be a darker and poorer place without any of them," Cr Steve Walker said.
"At risk are your much-loved museums, playgrounds, pools, libraries, wildlife protection, social housing, biking infrastructure, art galleries, heritage protection, the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, sports fields, arts/music funding, climate resilience, place-based funding ..."
His comments came after a government announcement about reform being aimed at getting councils to focus on core spending.
Cr Carmen Houlahan was also worried about activities such as the art gallery, libraries, museums and initiatives to grow Dunedin.
"What would a city be with its cultural and economic heart ripped out? Will it still be vibrant?"
However, Cr Lee Vandervis said the government’s announcement was overdue.
"A return to councils effectively delivering core local services will not just be helpful, but vital to bringing rates and debt increases back to affordable levels," he said.
The city council should have job cuts in some areas, he said.
"My message to central government on behalf of the interests of all Dunedin people is to enforce this back-to-basics directive if not rapidly complied with."
Cr Kevin Gilbert said no council enjoyed raising rates. The government would do well to take its own advice about delivering essential services, he said.
"I would consider ensuring proper healthcare for all of the nation’s citizens would be high among the ‘essential services’ of central government and not a ‘nice-to-have’," Cr Gilbert said.
Councils were required to do many things by central government, forcing up rates, and chastising them for this "might not show the deepest understanding of cause and effect".
Cr Sophie Barker said there was a need to refocus, as there had been some "scope creep".
"I agree that councils do need to focus on getting the basics right, but I also strongly believe we are here to serve our city across a number of areas."
