Interest Groups
All Interest Group members must be current financial members of Wellington City U3A
New Groups
Anyone interested in leading/forming a new group please contact Linda Beckett 027 417 5838 or lbeckett0106@gmail.com
Click here to see the Special Interest Groups Timetable at a glance
Current Groups:
We have two new groups starting up this year and they welcome more members:
Contemporary Mysteries Book Group
The Contemporary Mysteries Book Group meets monthly on the second Monday of each month from 2.15pm until 4.15pm at the Quakers’ Friends’ house, 7 Moncrieff St, Mt Victoria. The group’s books for discussion over the next four months have been decided and the group looks forward to the selections of others for reading and discussion as they join.
13 March: The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra by Vaseem Kahn
10 April: The Dry by Jane Harper
8 May: The Rose Code by Kate Quinn
12 June: Evil and Emerald by A. M . Stuart
Interested U3A members are very welcome to contact Jan Schmidt for further information at: hugkids5@gmail.com or cellphone 021 544 624.
Te Reo Conversation Group
This group is for those who have done the U3A Te Reo beginners’ course and/or have a basic understanding of Te Reo. Those who wish to maintain their skill base and continue learning in a conversation and practice group are very welcome to join us.
We meet weekly upstairs in the Embassy café at 9.30am on Tuesdays. Please contact Pauline if you would like to join the group or just to make enquiries about what we do.
Contact Pauline.Zumbach@gmail.com or cellphone 021 728 546.
Continuing Groups
Antiques Group
This group meets on the third Thursday of each month at 10am mainly at KARORI ARTS & CRAFT CENTRE at 7 Beauchamp Street behind the Karori Library on Main Road Karori.
We share an interest in “Old Things”, often family heirlooms and each of us does this on a semi rotational basis. We often visit places such as Te Papa back of house collections and other places of interest.
You are 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
In 2023, we will meet on alternate Thursdays from 10.00am to 12 noon, starting on 16 February, at the Wellington Quaker Meeting House, 7 Moncrieff Street, Mount Victoria, Wellington. Buses 2, 12e, 21, 35, 6.
Tea/coffee/conversation available from 10.00am prior to presentation which starts 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
We meet on the first Thursday of each month in one another’s homes. Each year books are chosen on a theme and then usually sourced through local libraries.
Please contact Colleen if you are interested in joining our group.
Contact: Colleen MCClymont: 0275277202
Email: colleen.in.ngaio@gmail.
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 is meeting monthly, on the last Friday at 12pm following the U3A lecture, learning to unravel the styles of various cryptics by discussion. A smaller group is meeting mid-month to tackle some more difficult cryptics. 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 – 10.15am for 10.30 start – in the Rimu Room of the Collective Community Hub, 1/33 Johnsonville Road, Johnsonville. Tea, coffee and milk are available at the Hub. All are welcome.
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.
Please Contact: Marcia Isles marcia.inz@outlook.com i
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
Handcrafts Group
This group is about enjoying the companionship, and sharing of the knowledge and inspiration of others, in accomplishing sewing or other handicraft projects. The group meets between 0930-1300 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: Just whatever you need for working on your current project. An iron will be available on site.
All are welcome to join us, and for all or just 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
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.
You can access some recent Music Appreciation programmes here.
Meeting dates for Term 1, 2023 are February 9 & 23, March 9 & 23, April 6 & 27, May 11 & 25, June 8 & 22.
Contact: David Barker, 021 376 660 or u3a.wlg.musicapp@gmail.com
Philosophy Group
We meet at the Quaker Centre, 7 Moncrieff Street (off Elizabeth Street), on the 1st and 3rd Mondays each month (excluding statutory holidays and a Christmas-New Year break) from 2.00 pm to 4.00 pm, with a coffee/tea break partway through. No prior formal study of philosophy is necessary – what’s desirable is an openness to new ideas. We’re a friendly, welcoming group who enjoy each others’ company. Presentations/discussions on philosophical topics are run by group members and qualified outsiders. We welcome enquiries about our group:
Contact: Mark MacCallum, markmaccalm@gmail.
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
Te Reo Māori Beginners’ Group
The next group will begin on February 28, running for 5 weeks. Those who were on the waiting list have been contacted, and there are 2 places still available. It is expected that members of this group are able and willing to attend all 5 sessions, unless there are exceptional circumstances. This is because there are others waiting to join.
The sessions are held on Tuesdays at 12.30, lasting about 90 minutes. The venue is the Quaker Rooms at 7 Moncrieff St, Mt Victoria which is within easy walking distance of the Embassy.
If you are interested in joining or have any questions, please contact Libby, the convenor: Libbyclark3@gmail.com
Walking Group One
Meets at Wellington Central Railway Station (by the entrance to New World) 9:45 a.m every Monday morning. All U3A members are 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, natural and cultural places around the city.
Contact: David Cropp 022 494 8021 or cropp.david@gmail.com
Walking Group Two
A medium paced group, focusing on Wellington’s great coastal and bush tracks, and calling ourselves Five Senses to remind us to use more than just our legs! We listen to the birds, smell the flowers, and learn to recognise the trees – but still get enough exercise to make it all worth while! Presently totalling about 30 members, we walk on a Monday and Wednesday morning with the 2 to 6 members on a Wednesday acting as a Recce for the following week’s larger (presently up to 15) Monday group.
Contact:aidankaynz@gmail.com
Walking Group Three
Walking Group Two does a variety of Monday morning walks usually lasting 2 to 4 hours. Our members take it in turn to plan and lead these outings, notifying members of the detail in the week prior. We explore tracks, and sometimes streets, in and around Wellington – locations range from the south coast to Waikanae and from Eastbourne to Cannon’s Point. Our walks often end at a café for an optional coffee.
As our members are all reasonably fit a good degree of fitness is expected. Transport to the starting points is usually based around Gold Card times with carpooling when necessary.
Please contact Alistair Beckett if you wish to join us or to make an enquiry about our group: ollybeckett13@gmail.com
New Groups
Anyone interested in leading/forming a new group please contact Linda Beckett 027 417 5838 or lbeckett0106@gmail.com