Non-U3A Talks/Events
UPCOMING EVENTS AT VICTORIA UNIVERSITY
Encounters with the historical imagination
Professor Giacomo Lichtner
In this inaugural professorial lecture, historian Giacomo Lichtner considers the contested roles that imagination plays in history: from filling evidential gaps to constructing national narratives of the past, and from dreaming new questions to harnessing the evocative powers of artistic invention. Imagination simultaneously tethers us to the past and frees us from it, allowing us to subvert it, adapt it, and sometimes find relevance in it.
When: Thursday 25 June, 5.30–6.30 pm
Where: Hunter Council Chamber, Level 2, Hunter Building, Gate 2, Kelburn Parade
Targeting diseases the organic way
Professor Bridget Stocker
Organic is the way to go—that is, unless you mention you are an Organic Chemist at a party, or at your kid’s gymnastics class. Your newly found conversationalist stops talking, their face goes blank, or worse, they quietly admit that organic chemistry was the topic in Chemistry that they truly failed in high school. But organic chemistry does not need to be given such bad press.
In this inaugural lecture, Professor Stocker will explain why she was attracted to the beauty of Organic Chemistry and how she and her research team use organic molecules to modify the immune response and develop therapeutics for a variety of diseases. By the end of the lecture, she guarantees that you will be one step closer to acing your organic chemistry exam.
When: Tuesday 7 July, 5.30–6.30 pm
Where: Hunter Council Chamber, Level 2, Hunter Building, Gate 2, Kelburn Parade
Lecretia Seales Memorial Lecture in Law Reform 2026
A problem is solved by continuing to find solutions: reforming remand in prison by Te Herenga Waka Centre for Justice Innovation
Many countries have seen a rise in the number of people remanded in custody and in the amount of time they remain in custody prior to trial or sentence. In Aotearoa New Zealand, this has become a problem of some urgency: as of September 2025, remand prisoners were 41% of the onsite prison population, two thirds of whom were awaiting trial.
In this lecture, Te Herenga Waka Centre for Justice Innovation will draw on their recent large-scale qualitative study of custodial remand to illustrate the complexity of addressing criminal justice problems through law and policy reform.
This lecture is generously supported by Lecretia’s family and friends.
When: Thursday 18 June, 5–7 pm
Where: GBLT1, Old Government Buildings, Pipitea Campus
Rethinking language delay in multilingual children: Towards more equitable assessment
Most children worldwide grow up with more than one language, yet identifying language delays in these children remains challenging. In Aotearoa New Zealand, for example, children may learn Te Reo Māori alongside English, using each language in different contexts. Such multilingual patterns are typical, but differences from monolingual norms can be misinterpreted, and genuine delays may be overlooked. This talk examines these gaps and presents findings from fieldwork in the Philippines on Tagalog acquisition in multilingual environments. It also discusses developing more equitable assessment tools and improving support for multilingual children, families, and clinicians.
When: Monday 22 June, 6–7 pm
Where: HMLT002, Hugh Mackenzie building, Kelburn campus
The future of coral reefs
Following the 16th International Coral Reef Symposium hosted at Victoria University of Wellington, join the President of the International Coral Reef Society for this compelling talk.
The evening will start with a plenary lecture by Professor Christian Voolstra (University of Konstanz), one of the world’s leading coral reef scientists and President of the International Coral Reef Society. You will hear about science-informed restoration approaches (selective breeding, probiotic therapy, and so on) that could allow for the generation of more thermally tolerant corals that may be better equipped to withstand the pressures of global warming.
This will be followed by a public question and answer session chaired by VUW’s Professor Simon Davy, convenor of the 2026 International Coral Reef Symposium.
When: Monday 27 July, 5.30–8 pm
Where: Hunter Council Chamber, Level 2, Hunter Building, Gate 2, Kelburn Parade
Café Scientifiqué
Café Scientifiqué is a place where for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology in a relaxed, friendly environment.
The School of Science in Society invites you to Café Scientifiqué—‘How nature inspires medicine’. Drawing on Pacific Island knowledge and western scientific approaches, a chemist and a biologist share insight about the potential of marine organisms for the development of modern medicines.
When: Wednesday 17 June, 5.45–7 pm
Where: The Guest Room at Southern Cross Garden Bar Restaurant, 39 Abel Smith Street, Te Aro
No registration required.
Lecture Speakers Featuring!
Two of our recent speakers have featured in the media this week –
- Sarah Catherall’s cover story in the Listener, and
- Philippa Werry as guest on Nine to Noon.
Scamming for Dummies
Help for everyday people who feel vulnerable to scamming be more aware of how scams work and how to protect yourself better.
Where: Brooklyn School
When: Monday 22 June 2026 – afternoon
The event page, including registration is at https://luma.com/oxun2m16
Scamming-for-Dummies-Flyer
PhD student at the University of Waikato undertaking a national study
When to stop driving
This research started in 2023 and I am currently recruiting families, whānau and carers who are supporting an older person with memory loss or cognitive impairment who is either still driving or has recently stopped driving. Participation involves completing a short online survey, which takes approximately 15–20 minutes.
Request-from-PhD-student-at-the-University-of-Waikato
Survey Flyer
Poneke Public Housing Futures
Pōneke Public Housing Futures is a group of everyday people in Wellington who believe secure, suitable housing is a fundamental right that must be available to everyone with a need.
Pōneke Wellington City — Public Housing Futures
Centre for Justice Innovation
The Centre would like to share the first summary report from our Remote Participation Project, following the preliminary forum we hosted on 6 March 2026.
More information Remote-Participation-Project-summary-report
A final chapter for Evergreen Melodies
After many years of creating music resources for aged care, singing groups, and community music programs, we wanted to let you know that Evergreen Melodies (Aged Care Music Resources) will officially close on 30 June 2026.
More information about Evergreen Melodies
Events | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
SGCNZ VUW National Shakespeare Festival
Shakespeare Globe Centre New Zealand is delighted to tell you about our 35th SGCNZ VUW National Shakespeare Festival! Please ensure that this is received by your members.
With our Regional Festival now having concluded, we are writing to advise you about our National Festival, which is a culmination of the 23 Regional Festivals that took place across the motu. The National Festival performances will be held at St James Theatre Wellington on Saturday 30 May 9.30am-5.30pm and Sunday 31 May 9.00am-5.00pm.
Tickets are valid for multiple entries and ticket holders are free to enter and exit the theatre between each 5- and 15- minute scene performance which will be ideal for your members on various counts. The venue is entirely accessible, and the schedule of performances will be posted on our website by Monday.
There is a vast array of plays and settings within the scenes being performed by our talented rangatahi and we are confident that it will provide a thoroughly enjoyable experience. There are discounts for concessions and groups; you can find further details and ticket prices here: https://www.universe.com/events/sgcnz-victoria-university-of-wellington-national-shakespeare-festival-tickets-24RDNP?ref=universe-discover
We hope that your members will come and join us in celebration of 35 years of Shakespeare Festivals.
Interesting items in Glean Report
Visit here Wellington events – Glean Report