Study Groups

Members will meet in various homes and discuss the antiques and curios that they have picked up over the years and the personal significance they may have.
The group will also go out and about, visiting various places of historic interest.

Group meets to watch DVDs and listen to CDs of classical music with the occasional foray into other genres

From Ian Rankin to Val McDermid and John Le Carre. A book club with a difference
What makes a great thriller/crime novel?
Most ingredients are easily stated; characters, dialogue, prose and plot but to reach real greatness a touch of alchemy is required. We would seek to find books with that alchemy
The group would choose a book for the month and encourage members to read widely of that author leading to a wide ranging discussion of the book, the author and the genre and recommendations for books for others to read.

This group will look at the history of Great Britain through architecture, language, customs, personalities etc over the centuries.

For iPhone/iPad users. Come join us at Stoke Baptist Church, Main Road, Stoke for our very popular Interest Group
1.30pm - 3.30pm incl. refreshments during our break.
In our sessions we cover, as casually and as understandably as possible, the where to find, how to use. We continually remind all about iOS Updates and security
We have a Q & A session, and questions are encouraged and we are fortunate in having a brilliant team of subject presenters who tend to specialise in a particular area.

A painting community. No tutoring just a loose group that would like to get together with others and ‘give it a go‘
A loose structure that will fit for all levels and interests in pursuing a little painting time in our week. Relax and enjoy, have fun, complete beginners welcome. Let's just do it!

10 or 11 presentations, usually PowerPoint, covering Local Maori History topics such as Succession of Tribes, the Nelson Tenths, the Wairau, First Meetings, local Treaty issues etc.

A group for those who are keen to play mahjong

Fortnightly visits to the State Theatre to view a movie followed later in the month by a discussion.

If you love music and discovering new music, this group is for you. Let's come together to share our love for music, learn about different genres and performers. All members to share new purchases and discoveries as well as favourites from the past. We want to hear new and old music that is new to all of us.

Watching a wide range of operas on DVD and online. Sharing opinions and appreciation of operas, looking into the history of the genre. Members will choose some of their favourite works and present them to other members

The benefits of singing are too numerous to list. This group isn’t about learning how to sing or how to sight read music. It’s about singing popular songs together, learning some new ones that the kids are singing today, having fun, and letting it all hang out. No homework, no scores, no audition. Just a lyrics sheet and a catchy tune.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-28/how-singing-in-choirs-can-help-brains-recover-from-burnout/103710820

Members take turns at presenting the story of scientists, doctors, and mathematicians taken from biographies followed by questions and analysis.
Bus routes 2 and 4 will get people here.

A group for those who enjoy wine and are interested in how it is grown and made, and in what to look for when tasting a wine.

Visit wineries and discover what makes a wine look, smell and taste the way it does. Followed by lunch at a nearby cafe.

Research has shown laughter to play a role in combatting stress, depression, anxiety and even blood pressure. Do you laugh enough? If you enjoy the old comedies - think Fawlty Towers, Keeping Up Appearances, Billy T James this may be the group for you. Absolutely no homework.

As the title implies, this is a group that wishes to explore all sorts of music, other than classical, which is already explored by another group.

We are a lively group who are passionate about music and its impact upon us. Our interests are wide ranging and nothing is excluded.

As source materials we use our own collections, the library and the internet to research various artists, genres and periods to increase our knowledge, understanding, and enjoyment.

To share knowledge and information about the Apple Mac computer and its companion devices: the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV.

The purpose of the group is to look at the family life, education, art style and working life of the artist. We will look at 2 artists each meeting with members looking at one of the former aspects of the artist's life.

A group for those interested in contemporary art, with a primary focus on local artists.

Visit galleries and artists’ studios to learn about creative processes and ideas that lie behind contemporary art practice.
With a cafe visit afterwards.

We enjoy watching DVDs of the history of particular civilisations or persons. We then investigate a different view through YouTube. Of course there is always some discussion concerning what we have seen.

We are all amateurs interested in getting out in the fresh air and observing birds found in our area in their natural habitat. Places to visit vary depending on the season or on suggestions from individual members if the group. It provides a great opportunity for photographers too. If the weather is bad on the day, we sometimes meet in a member's house to discuss birds, watch relevant videos on YouTube or view photographs.

This group meets at members' homes where the host discusses the books that he/she has found memorable in his/her lives.

Join Chess for All: Beginners and experienced players welcome. Compete and connect with friendly matches, strategy sessions and a welcoming atmosphere.

Short stories, 'Mega stories', essays, some poetry and even a book review feature as tasks throughout the year.

A task is set for each meeting, for example, 'Shades Of The Sea'. Members are free to explore the idea in any way they choose.

A word for the week and a writing style is also given for experimentation and inclusion in the writing.

We read our contributions to the group and expect feedback.

People usually think you're very smart if you can do Cryptic Crosswords. But they're not as tricky as they first look. There are some rules and some standard instructions within each clue, and once you've got your head around the basic principles, they are straightforward and very gratifying to complete.

If you enjoy taking photos with a camera or iPhone and are interested in joining other like minded people the Digital Imagery Group could be right for you. This friendly non-competitive group meets on the last Friday of the month at Olive Estate in Richmond. Along with different themes for taking photos each month there are opportunities for learning new techniques and hearing from guest speakers.

Inspired by a book we have read recently (There are Rivers in the
Sky, by Elif Shafak), and a love of history, we decided a study group
looking at different empires of the past could be interesting.
Empires such as the Assyrian, the Ottoman, the Persian; empires of
China, Japan . . . . the list is endless! Members of the group would
take turns to do a presentation on an ‘empire’ that interests them,
and lead a discussion afterwards.

A regular walking group for those wanting to keep fit and get to know the Nelson area.

Each member of the group takes a turn to select an interesting route.

We walk for an hour or so at an intermediate level, then meet for a coffee at a local cafe.

This group aims to identify and explore issues of geopolitical or national interest.

What are today’s greatest challenges and choices? The 21 lessons are aimed to stimulate further thinking and help readers participate in some of the major discussions of our time.

From YouTube documentaries view and discuss art works that have been stolen, looted, forged, lost, recovered/ rediscovered/returned.
There are many treasures world-wide which the group can discuss.

Aims to increase understanding of topics as diverse as Inflation, Consumer Price Index, Bankruptcy, Taxation, Maori Economy. $2 per meeting for morning tea. Monthly newssheet of topics, circulated by e-mail prior to meeting.

Free discussion of current events

To share knowledge and information about various galleries of the world. We would hope that some/most/all of the participants in the group will be able to share their experiences of having visited particular galleries as well as complementing their experience with the rich resources available online and from their own photographs. However, those who have not visited galleries, but who are interested in this group are also welcome to join.

Formation of the solar system/other known planetary systems, geological history of the Earth, Life on Earth, various extinctions + evolutionary leaps, current climate change and potential to mitigate it. xx

Viewing of selected documentary dvds with discussion about the environmental, energy, and economic crises facing the world, such as artificial intelligence, global warming with climate change, overpopulation, and probable financial collapse.

A group for garden lovers and always lunch after a garden tour.

Visit gardens and nurseries and discover the secrets of gardening from those in the know.

A weekly fun game of Mahjong with NO scoring.

Military History from Ancient Egypt through to at least Vietnam.

Discussions under headings such as politics, personnel, material, strategy, tactics, successes, blunders and the overall effect on societies of the time.

There is a wealth of information online, both documentary and CGI and this is supplemented with literature, ie histories, biographies, autobiographies etc.

Rock, concerto, rap, R&B, medieval, jazz, requiem, are a few names plucked out of a very long list of musical genres.

If you are convinced that your musical taste is limited to a particular musical genre, this group is not for you.

But if your mind is open to exploring the wonderful world of music, then I’d love you to join me twice monthly, at my home at a time negotiable with the group.

If that’s you, and you have the time . . . .

Discussion of books by members who love reading at the Tahunanui Library.

For opera lovers. DVDs of well-known opera performances will be shown and discussed.

Members can bring any poems they wish to share and discuss
No judgement on contributions - can be classical old poems from Keats, Wordsworth etc, through to modernist, through to Pam Ayres, and even members' own poems they may have written.
Not just a group about reading poems, but each group member brings information about the poet, why poem was written etc. etc. and have some discussion.
Technology can be used if they want to have a poet read their own poem - we can use YouTube links. i.e. the only one who can read Pam Ayres poems, is Pam Ayres!!!

A group for those who wish to spend time exercising their grey matter and exploring some of life's big issues.
This year we have covered
1.Liberal democracy as an appropriate political system for the 21st century
2. Information and news - sources and their accuracy
To come
Sexuality; Violence; Religion; Economics; Crime and Punishment; Population; Education; Racism; Morality...
Each member prepares a short statement setting out their understanding and views on the topic after which there is discussion and sometimes debate. Views may differ, debate can be fiery but no blows are exchanged

Stoic philosophy is very old but retains great relevance for living our lives in today's world.
It offers ways to view life that are both challenging and empowering.
The group will look at the principals of this philosophy and how it might enhance our lives. Discussion will go where the group chooses!
We will meet for an initial 6 weeks starting on Friday 2 May. There will be a limit of 6 people. We may decide to continue if the group wants.

Members of this group watch 20 minute, cogent, persuasive speeches from some of the world's great thinkers.

Each talk is followed by a discussion on the ideas that are introduced.

Members of the group select TED talks they think would be suitable and these are placed in the bag. Talks are then randomly selected from the bag as needed for each session.

Viewing and discussion of presentations on various topics of interest from TED Talks on Youtube.

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design.

We will be looking at where our weather comes from and how weather works, from a global scale right down to local weather here on the Waimea Plains.
We will look at how clouds form and various cloud formations. Also where “frontal weather” comes from, extreme weather phenomena and why do we have such pretty sunsets in late summer.

A general knowledge quiz with lots of laughs and very sociable. It’s not The Chase, it’s not competitive and there are no prizes. It’s just a fun way of testing your brain and keeping the grey matter functioning. As a condition of having free use of the Honest Lawyer’s side room we must purchase drinks and food. The scones are very good!

Aimed at members perhaps contemplating a narrow boat or cycling holiday, or buying one!
People who may have owned a narrow boat or enjoyed a holiday on one and want to learn more about the 'system'.
People who may be interested in the history of canals, their role in the Industrial Revolution. their construction, industrial use, their decline and their continuing resurrection for leisure use. It’s a very broad topic, the engineering marvels, the museum’s, boat types, costs etc

A book discussion group that uses the WEA System.

NB: An annual membership subscription fee of $70 + postage to WEA applies to each member.

Creating a record of your life and times and sharing your writings with other members.