Interest Groups: Meeting Times Are Listed Below Group Title. NB: Groups with asterick * are looking for more members
| Groups Meeting date each month | Description |
Architecture 3rd Wednesday 9:45 am Judy Hanna Phone: 489-4425 | Members study and present talks on the Architecture and Design of our built environment, including Landscape Architecture, and also the Design of objects, especially furniture. There is an emphasis on the work of local and international architects and designers. Materials used and construction methods are discussed, and site visits are arranged from time to time. |
Astronomy * 4th Friday 9:45 am Peter Cradwick Phone: 021-0229-3289 | Talks prepared by various members, and sometimes taken from DVDs, cover a wide range from astronomical instruments and basic observing to the life cycle of stars and cosmology. Occasional observing nights are scheduled using the Convenor’s 10” Dobsonian telescope, depending on weather conditions. |
Auckland Heritage and History 3rd Friday 10:00 am Christine Ball: 410-7789 | Visits to heritage buildings, and house meetings, discussing the history of the buildings and the people involved in their beginnings. Members will be encouraged to share their own knowledge and experiences, and through their contacts may be able to arrange for us to visit privately owned buildings. Carpooling encouraged, and we may have café lunches during trips. |
Board Games 2 nd Friday of month 9:45 am Leonie Kho Phone: 027-877-8811 Ron Wilson Phone 478-2490 | Play Board Games, Better memory, Stronger Immune System, Enhanced Mental Health, Stress Relief, Laughter & Fun |
Cabbages and Kings 2nd Thursday 1:30 pm Anne Young: 486-3317 Liz Milne: 963-2810 | Group members give short talks about whatever interests them at the moment, which leads to general discussion about all manner of things such as “shoes and ships and sealing wax - cabbages and kings. - why the sea is boiling hot, and whether pigs have wings” as the Walrus said. |
Chinese Painting and Art * 2nd Friday 1:30 pm Doreen Brown: 473-0871 | Covers all aspects of Chinese Culture. Study the history of Chinese Painting, materials and artists, and discuss reproductions from old masterpieces to contemporary works. Practical painting covers a wide variety of subjects. Attend exhibitions of painting, calligraphy and photography. Study and visit Festivals. |
Classical Opera * 3rd Tuesday 1:30 pm Jenny Adams: 489-5914 | Each monthly meeting features a different opera shown on a large screen. Recent operas include Berlioz’s “La Damnation de Faust”, Dvorak’s “Rusalka”, Puccini’s “La Rodine”, Richard Strauss’s “Salome” and Verdi’s “Falstaff”. |
Comparative Religion * 3rd Thursday 1:30 pm Stephen Warnes: 027-646-3866 | This Group is now in abeyance - after 4 years. Those who would be interested in having the Group contginue and repeat the journey, please contact the convenor |
Famous and Infamous * 2nd Friday 10:00 am Brucilla Wright: 480-0150 | Two members each month select a person – living or dead – to present and discuss. It is an informal presentation and very interesting. Recent subjects include: Dr Crippen, Rudolph Hess, Rasputin, Florence Nightingale, Degas and Henry the Navigator. Interspersed with a good morning tea |
Finance and Investment 3rd Monday 9:45 am Graham Alcock: 473-5607 graham_ionaalcock@hotmail.com | Two or three topics are discussed at each meeting - general financial issues and specific companies. The agenda is emailed to members earlier so they can research and prepare for the meeting. Previous topics are revisited as they become newsworthy, or the Group’s knowledge increases. No need to be an active investor or financial wizard to participate in this friendly group |
Film Appreciation * 4th Monday 1:30 pm Judy Ganley: 489-5828 | This group encourages an interest in all aspects of film making. We meet monthly, sometimes with a speaker or we study a particular topic, for example the work of a director. We take a keen interest in the New Zealand Film Festival and often a quick email gathers a group to see a well-recommended film. Social activity is very important to us. |
| Foundations of Western Civilization Every 2 nd and 4th Tuesday of the month(except school holidays) Where: Sky lounge, Mayfair Village, 14 Oteha Valley Rd, Time: 9.45 to 12 mid-day Graham Ritson: 489-5366 | Discover the essential nature, evolution, and perceptions of Western civilization from its humble beginnings in the great river valleys of Iraq and Egypt to the dawn of the modern world. With these 48, 30 minutes lectures on the people, places, ideas, and events that make up The Foundations of Western Civilization, by a prominent Professor of History.
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French * 2nd & 4th Wednesday 2:00 pm Ann Andreassend: 410-3297 | We start with ‘homework’ from members, in French of course - a paragraph or two about a holiday, a film, a book, or even a joke. Then we have afternoon tea and continue reading our book. At present it is the autobiography of Georges Simenon, a fascinating memoir. |
Geology 3rd Tuesday of Month 9:45 am Boyd Miller: 488-7595 | Exploring the physical structure and substances of the Earth, its history, and the processes which act on it. Programme follows a theme decided by the group. Members research a topic and contribute short presentations to the group. Occasional visiting speaker or visit to a place of interest |
German * 1st & 3rd Friday 10:00 am Peter Robinson: 489-4494 | Ahead of each meeting a German text is emailed to members. This is read and translated at the next session – everybody taking turns. These texts are generally taken from the Internet and usually provoke lively discussions. We are lucky to have Annette who was born in Germany, and she gives a short dictation for us to write down and then compare with a typed copy. |
Globalisation * 4th Thursday 1:30 pm Chris Ball: 410-7789 | A small informal group with emphasis on discussion. The current areas of interest are the major changes taking place in global society, and developments which may herald a third industrial revolution. |
Great Artists 1st & 3rd Thursday 10:00 am Cherry Worger: 486-0615 | The initial theme for 2016 is Renaissance Art. Themes are decided by consensus at the end of each previous year. The person hosting the session is also responsible for the presentation of their chosen topic. The twice monthly sessions begin at 10am with morning tea tea or coffee and about 30 minutes of informal catching up. We have a gallery visit about twice yearly. |
| Historical Studies * 2nd Monday 9.45am Andrew Pack: 418-1925 | |
| Latin Studies 2nd & 4th Thursday 10:00 am Geoff Sheehan: 620-5169 | Learn about the Latin Language. As this is an incremental course which builds on past lessons the group numbers are now closed. |
Mah Jong * 1st & 3rd Friday 1:30 pm David Johnson: 473-8942 | Join us and play the classic game. If you would like to learn Mah Jong then this is the group to join. Join us and have fun while playing. |
Making History * 1st Thursday 10:00am Georgie Maurice: 473-0404 | Historical events, individuals and unforseen circumstances great and small that shaped and changed history. |
| Maori Studies * 4th Wednesday 1:30 pm Martyn Geary: 027-444-3219 or email: mbgeary@xtra.co.nz | Prehistory, history, religion and culture, with a little bit of easy language learning. Now is the chance to become even more educated! Unravel the mysteries. |
Mind Body Medicine 2nd Thursday 9:45 am Graham Ritson: 489-5366 or email graham@ritson.co.nz | The concept that the mind is important in health and illness dates back to ancient times. ... Mind-body medicine focuses on: The interactions among the brain, the rest of the body, the mind, and behavior. The ways in which emotional, mental, social, spiritual, experiential, and behavioral factors can directly affect health |
Modern English Literature 1st & 3rd Tuesday Pearl Thompson Ph0ne:449-0450 | Post-WW2 literature generally - usually novels, but also short stories and poetry. Topics have covered a wide range of writers and themes from NZ to other parts of the Commonwealth. The present focus is female American writers to be followed by male writers for comparison. Presentations are followed by discussion. |
Modern History * 2nd Wednesday 9:45am Graeme: 489-5526 or Martin: 294-7820 | Programmes are selected democratically - the group (one of the original U3A Takapuna study groups) has covered many topics in its 24 years. Members volunteer to prepare a wide variety of talks covering individuals, events, countries, wars etc. We learn from each other while enjoying our regular socialising. Themes for 2016 are ‘The movement of Peoples - Migratory or Forced’. Visitors & new members are welcome. |
Music Appreciation * 4th Thursday 1:30 pm Jennifer Knutsen: 475-6797 | This Group is operating as a social group at the moment, meeting every couple of months for concerts and lunch. If interested please contact convenor. |
Musical Studies 2nd & 4th Monday's (apart from School Holidays) 9:45 am Sky Lounge Mayfair Village Jan Judson: 021 396 152 | Studies in aspects of western classical music from 100 c.e. to the present. Topics are studied thematically with lots of opportunities to listen to and talk about music of many different sorts. In 2018 we studyed the great turning points in music notation and printing, the story of the piano, and the development of the orchestra and its instruments. There are lots of opportunities for everyone to participate in presentations, discussions and the sharing of music of significance to them. We have members from right across the musical spectrum, from those who have performed and taught at the highest levels to those who simply enjoy listening to music for the joy it brings to their lives. Everyone is welcome. |
Musical Troubadours * 2nd & 4th Monday 2.00 pm Jocelyn Spinney : 445-3329 | An Inter-U3A instrument playing group to encourage seniors to keep playing. Present instruments: violin, viola, cello, two harps, flute, recorder, piano. Various levels of ability...all welcome! We mainly play classical music but enjoy music from the shows etc. as well. We have given some short concerts to outside senior groups. |
Other People’s Lives * 4th Tuesday 2.00 pm Patricia Lissette: 489-9465 | Looking at other people’s lives in the form of biographies and autobiographies. “The Seven Lives of Lady Barker” was the first biography studied, written by the Group’s convenor. Members research and present a subject for discussion each month |
Poetry Group 2nd Monday 1:30 pm Val Overington: 486-5582 | Poetry reading from a wide variety of poets from Chaucer to the present day chosen consensually and often influenced by anniversaries e.g. WW1 We read a short biography of the poet’s life, then we read two poems each of our own choice by that poet. |
Scientific Horizons * 1st Wednesday 1:30 pm Geoffrey Bourke: 021-737-973 | The programme is planned by the Convenor 3-4 months ahead and can include engineering, mathematics and science topics. Recent talks have been Ageing, Biological clocks, Francis Bacon, Fluoridisation, Fractals, Lasers, Magnetism, Migrations, Navigation, Super volcanoes and 3D printing. The meetings are held in homes that can accommodate the twelve members – no need to be a former scientist or engineer! |
Scrabble * 1st Friday 9:45 am Sue: 021-622-783 | A small informal group with emphasis on increasing our word knowledge. At the end of our games, there is a discussion about words that are new to us and their meanings. |
Shakespeare * 3rd Monday 9:45 am Graham Alcock: 473-5607 | Members volunteer to talk about an aspect of Shakespeare. e.g. his life, one of his plays or sonnets; followed by discussion. Visitors and new members are very welcome. |
| Social Issues * 1st Friday 2:30 pm Stephen Warnes: 027-646-3866 | Social Issues New group that discusses social issues |
Spanish Culture 2nd Friday 10:00 am Pam Robinson: 489-4494 | This group enjoys studying the history, geography, art, music and interesting personalities of Spain and her erstwhile colonies in South America. We usually have 2 topics per meeting, and also spend some time reading and discussing some simple Spanish texts |
U3A Travel 3rd Monday 10:00 am Jocelyn Spinley: 445-3329 | Speakers come from anyone who has had a trip overseas. One speaker visited India as an air hostess and also as a tourist. Another visited his son in Brazil and shared the realities of life there, including walking 8km to the nearest bus, having no hot water and needing to climb a tree to connect to the Internet. |
World War Two * 2nd Tuesday 1:00 pm Ian Morris: 480-0919 | From pre-war causes to post war recovery. Chronological study including political leaders, military leaders, the many roles of women in war, economic aspects , neutral countries, alliances etc. Viewing of actual film footage, and focus on particular issues in more detail – not just the various battles. Active input and discussion encouraged from all members. |