Another Auckland-based student said the city needs "more cool places to hang out" and "more things to do that don't involve drinking".
"[Auckland needs] more community-based events, not just one-off events where people don't get to know each other. It needs to be a consistent thing. Consistency - like weekly things spread across the city - is better," someone else pointed out.
For many students the Herald spoke to, inclusiveness and sustainability are also important issues to raise, when discussing the Auckland we want to have in the future.
Others pointed out that it is important to "encourage people to come in and interact with the city".
"Right now, it's just pretty sad and lonely," one student said.