Interest Groups
All Interest Group members must be current financial members of Wellington City U3A
Click here to see the Special Interest Groups Timetable at a glance
Current Groups:
Antiques Group
This group meets on the third Thursday of each month at 10 am mainly at Gaynor Stewart’s home on The Terrace, central Wellington. We share an interest in old things, often family heirlooms and do this on a semi rotation basis. We often visit places such as Te Papa’s back of house collections and other places of interest. You are very welcome to join our group, even if you wish to come along on a “one off” basis to check us out. You would be made very welcome.
Contact: Doug Helps, Group Convenor, 232 4881 or dougyvonne1@gmail.com
Art History Group
Meets on alternate Thursdays from 10.30am to 12 noon from 18 February at Karori Recreation Centre, 251 Karori Road, Karori. Entrance at the rear of the building from the carpark off Beauchamp St. Tea/coffee/conversation from 10.00am for presentation start at 10.30am. This group is currently full, but you are very welcome to contact Peter to make an enquiry or to go onto our waiting list.
Contact: Peter Stupples 021 059 4164 or pams@actrix.co.nz
Book Group 1
Meets on the first Wednesday of each month on the Terrace at 10.30am. Membership of the group is limited to 10 and the group is currently full, however if you would like to go on a waiting list, please contact Jane on the details below.
Contact: jane.ireland06@gmail.com 0212617080.
Book Group 2 – Northern and Western Suburbs
Meets on the first Thursday of each month at 10 am – 12 noon at members’ homes. The members are mainly from the Northern and Western suburbs. This group is currently full.
Contact: Jenny Mainwaring 02102341636 jemain@xtra.co.nz
Book Group 3 – Eastern Suburbs
Meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 2.00 pm in Oriental Bay. This group is currently full but please contact Diana Duff-Staniland if you wish to go on the waiting list or to start another group in the Eastern suburbs.
Contact: Diana Duff-Staniland: 385 8590 or email: dduff.staniland@xtra.co.nz
Book Group 4 – Northern Suburbs
Meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 10.30am – 12 noon at members’ homes. Members are mainly from the Northern Suburbs. Format: The host for the next meeting chooses a topic for that meeting. Each member reads any book they like in that topic, and reviews their book at the meeting for the other members. There are vacancies in this group so if you’re interested in joining, please get in touch with Sue Fish.
Contact: Sue Fish. Mobile: 027 327 3633 or email: suef365@gmail.com
Cryptic Crosswords
The Cryptic Crosswords Special Interest Group has made a solid start. We are meeting monthly, on the last Friday at 12pm following the U3A lecture, learning to unravel the styles of various cryptics by discussion. U3A members are very welcome to join in, please be in touch to learn more about our group.
Contact: Lynda Young email: rby@actrix.co.nz; 027 4428 394
Current Issues
Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 10.00 am in the Burma Lounge, Malvina Major Village, 134 Burma Road, Johnsonville.
Contact: Michael Hodgen 478 6303 or michael.hodgen@xtra.co.nz
Film Group
Meets on the third Saturday of the month (daytime) at the Penthouse cinema with the film followed by a discussion at the café. New members welcome.
Contacts: Colleen McClymont 027 527 7202 or Bob McClymont 027 527 7203 or mcclymont1@xtra.co.nz
Film Group – Mid-Week
Catches a film on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month, usually at Lighthouse Cuba, but will go further afield to Penthouse or Roxy to catch a better film. Times vary but aim at early afternoon after the Tues lecture and with opportunity for discussion after each film. Members are notified before each, and are free to attend as many or few films as they wish. This group is currently full, but if you wish to go on our waiting list, please email either Suzanne or Aidan whose contact details are below.
Contacts:
Suzanne Blumhardt: hatblum@xtra.co.nz or 384 7046
Aidan Kay: aidankaynz@gmail.com or 021 0282 2082
German Conversation
This friendly group meets at 10.30 am on the second and fourth Mondays of the month in members’ homes. New members welcome.
Contact: Diana Barnes 479-2947 or dgbarnes@xtra.co.nz
Music Appreciation Group
We meet on alternate Thursdays from 10 am until 12 noon at St Ninians Church, Karori. All welcome and morning tea/coffee/biscuits provided. Each meeting a member presents music on a topic chosen by them. The music is mostly classical, but does not have to be. Doing a presentation is entirely voluntary, and it is not necessary to know lots about music, just to enjoy it.
Meeting dates for the second half of 2021:
July 29, August 12 & 26, September 9 & 23, October 21, November 4 & 18,
December 2. Please note that we do not meet if the COVID level is 2 or above.
You can access some recent Music Appreciation programmes here.
Contact: David Barker, 021 376 660 or u3a.wlg.musicapp@gmail.com
Philosophy Group
Meets in the Common Room, St Andrew’s Church, The Terrace (outside ramp), on first and third Mondays and fifth Mondays (where applicable) each month at 2.00 pm. We are currently full.
Contact: Mark MacCallum, 022 582 3916 or markmaccalm@gmail.com
Sewing Group
This group started in March. It’s about enjoying the companionship, sharing of knowledge and inspiration of others in accomplishing sewing or other handicraft projects. The group meets between 0900-1300 on the 3rd Monday of each month at the Bowling Club rooms of the Hataitai Community Centre (accessed by a few steps down from 157 Hataitai Rd).
Equipment required: Sewing machine, an extension cord and your current project – an ironing board and iron will be available on site. All are welcome to join us, and for all or some of the time during the morning. If you are interested or would like to make further enquiries please contact:
Diane Morgan 027 672 9060 or email: diane.morgan@xtra.co.nz
Shakespeare Studies
Meets on alternate Wednesdays at St Andrew’s Centre, 30 The Terrace from 10.30 am until 12 noon. Numbers are limited to 12, and there is a short waiting list, but please contact Roger if you are interested in joining this group.
Contact: Roger Chapman 021 037 5622 or chaplaw42@gmail.com
Smart Phone Photography
Would you be interested in taking better pictures with your Smart Phone?
As a photographic enthusiast, Roger Urlwin has established a Smart Phone Photography Special Interest Group of 11 U3A members who meet weekly and also connect online. This is a great way to discover what else your phone can do, expand your skills and (re)discover your local indoor and outdoor environment. New members are welcome. Contact: Roger Urlwin: roger.urlwin@gmail.com
Walking Group One
Meets at the Wharewaka (beside the lagoon on the waterfront) at 9.45 am every Monday morning. All U3A members welcome, no need to call – we’d welcome you for a social walk and talk and, of course, coffee at the end. We explore historic, nature and cultural places around the city.
Contact: David Cropp 027 657 0666 or cropp.david@gmail.com
Walking Group Two
Longer walks (Monday mornings 9.30 am to 12 noon approx.), around and about Wellington during the year. Walks usually end at a café for an optional coffee. On the second Monday of each month a longer walk of up to four hours is scheduled. As our members are all reasonably fit a good degree of fitness is expected. Transport is usually based around Gold Card times with carpooling when necessary. This group is currently full.
Contact: Paul Armstrong 476 6965 or paul.armstrong9@gmail.com
New Groups
Anyone interested in leading/forming a new group please contact Linda Beckett 027 417 5838 or lbeckett0106@gmail.com