About us
What is our purpose?
To enable older people not in full-time employment to engage in learning, through sharing knowledge and research gathered during their lives, as well as providing opportunities for social contact.
How do we achieve this purpose?
We provide over 50 such groups on a wide range of academic, contemporary and creative topics from languages, history and science, to computers, current affairs and the arts. The groups meet mostly in members' homes twice a month. This is our core activity.
General meetings: These are held once a month from February
to November inclusive at a central location. Members of U3A and the local community
speak on a wide range of subjects. Non-members are most welcome to attend.
Other events: Occasionally an interest group will hold an event such as a trip
to an interesting venue which other members of U3A may join.
Our history
We were established in February 1995 at a public meeting of 25 people at which 7 interest groups were formed and we have grown to a membership of 500 with 50 interest groups. In March 2002 we held an international U3A Conference at Baycourt in Tauranga on the theme Pacific Paradise in the 21st Century? to which U3A members came from Australia, England, USA and all parts of New Zealand.