President’s Message
March 2026
Our February meeting was quite well attended, with 137 present.
We had an interesting series of mini speakers. Vivianne Child
asked for two minutes to promote her new 500 group, which is going very well. Then Gay Williams told us about the Poetry group, Ruth Ruge, the new convenor, about Saints and Sinners and Anneka de Castro about Current Events.
After morning tea we heard from our main speaker Dr Stephen Child, a consultant physician at Auckland
City Hospital and Chief Medical Officer of the Southern Cross Health Society. Stephen gave us a fascinating talk, taking us through the field of health, with many interesting pieces of information. Many of us were struck by his insistence that alcohol is a system poison with no safe level which should be reserved for a treat, if drunk at all, which advice did not seem to be universally popular. His list of the main causes of
mortality seemed to indicate that I could go on for ever, which also may not altogether please the membership, but another piece of advice for happiness is to lower your expectations to fit reality, which should help you to cope.
So, remember, go easy on the booze, quit smoking, avoid fatty foods and stay active, all in moderation. We were staying with my son and daughter in law last weekend and they seem to have given up having anything to eat with their cups of tea. We visited a bakery and boy, I could have murdered that long jam and cream doughnut. I still dream about it!
John Goodman
How We Operate
Monthly Meetings
At our monthly meetings we get together to listen to a speaker of note. These people are chosen from a wide variety of backgrounds – historians, social scientists, representatives of voluntary organisations, scientists from a wide variety of backgrounds, and from many other disciplines. We also have updates from representatives from our interest groups and from time to time hear from other community representatives to give a short update on their activities
Interest Groups
We currently have many interest groups covering a wide variety of activities. Activities include a number of walking groups, reading groups, a memoir writing group, musical interest groups history and wine studies groups and many others. The complete list can be seen on the Interest groups page. From time to time we have new groups formed, and others cease their activity
Newsletter
Our monthly newsletter is our main means of communication with our members. Most of our members received their newsletters by email. We also post newsletters covering the last two years on our website for those interested in our activities. The website is updated monthly to ensure the most recent newsletters are always available.
Interest Groups
are the heart of U3A Meadowbank.
Our Interest Groups are the key to learning in more depth about a wide variety of topics and activities. They are at the heart of what U3A is all about and we strongly encourage all of our members to actively participate in at least one group. We also welcome ideas about new areas of study or activity from our members
We are a part of a Global Network
U3A is a global movement encouraging mature people to keep their minds active and share their knowledge. It began in France in 1972 as a means of enabling older achievers to continue learning and share their knowledge under the banner “University of the Third Age”. The movement spread widely throughout Europe.
In 1981, U3A reached the United Kingdom, which developed a model based on peer-to-peer learning, away from academia. This same approach was adopted in Australia and New Zealand. The first U3A in New Zealand was U3A Remuera, established in 1989. U3A St Heliers followed in 1992. There are now over 80 U3As in New Zealand, including 27 in the Auckland region. Further Information can be found on www.u3a.nz.
We are part of a local Network
Each U3A association is autonomous, organising its own programme, governance and affairs, but adhering to the principles on which U3A was founded. In summary, these are the guidelines that shape our activities and collegiality.
- Learning and teaching are mutually enhancing. We are all learners and teachers and are encouraged to be actively engaged in discovery, discussion, research and exploration of topics of collective interest.
- We are all recognised as having something of value to bring to the Association. We acknowledge the wisdom and depth of experience that members bring and the potential for new learning and new challenges as we age.
- All of our work is voluntary – no one gets paid for their services (except perhaps a koha for outside speakers). Leadership is shared and rotated, so no-one holds on to office beyond an allotted term.
- There are no admission requirements other than paying the annual membership fee. No entry qualifications are required, no award or recognition given of learning undertaken.