President’s Message
July 2026
The June meeting was again very successful, with over 120 members present.
Our very interesting short talk was entitled ‘How do you doula: Death Cafes and other important conversations’. Drawing on her wide experience Sandy Millar put the café conversations into the context of her other work at the beginning and end of life, including the use of Advanced Care Plans. Her presentation showed that she is both capable and very empathetic – the characteristics of a successful Doula.
After morning tea, in our main presentation, Richard Shaw, Professor in Politics at Massey University, gave us an extremely enlightening insight into a slice of the history of the 19th century Government confiscation of Maori land in Taranaki, through his family’s history. He was very forthright about the part members of his family played in this period, the result for his family and the process of confiscation and partial reparations. In relation to the confiscated land on-leased to his family he discussed the way his family made a ‘capital gain’ in the way the cost of leases were set (35 pounds p.a. for 21 years, 12 pounds p.a. for the next 21). We were left in no doubt as to the veracity and results of his research: The purchase price to settlers from the government of ‘section 44 and Parihaka was $329,698 – none of which went to mana whenua’.
He raised the question of the ‘unsettling things’ – the unsettled story of our past, the Irish paradox, the transformation based on stolen land. The past is not truly the past. Perhaps the most startling fact is that 70,000 hectares of Māori land are still in enclosures – inaccessible to those who are entitled to them.
He raised the question of why, so far along, are some people unwilling to discuss the past – particularly when objectively no one stands to lose anything, although of course some people must feel that they do. He quoted: ‘people have to work hard not to know, not to recall, not to see, to be truly ignorant’
He was very forthright in answering questions from the appreciative audience. Altogether, an informative and enjoyable morning.
The new TED talks and Beyond group got off to a good start; and before morning tea in July, Chris Hawley will be talking to us about the new group he is proposing for 2027 and we will briefly celebrate Matariki.
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.