Study Groups

We enjoy watching DVDs of the history of particular places or persons. The videos are often of BBC serials and we may watch an episode at a time. Of course there is always some discussion concerning what we have just viewed.

We are all amateurs interested in getting out in the fresh air and observing birds found in our area in there 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.

Largely for beginners, and priority will be given to beginners, but players with some experience are also welcome. You will be expected to mentor new players, as well as having opportunities to play other experienced opponents. This is very much a shared learning group.

Content; 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.

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

Viewing of selected documentary dvds with discussion about the environmental, energy, and economic crises facing the world, such as peak oil, 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.

For iPhone/iPad users. Come join us at Pioneer Park rooms Nelson 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.

This group will look at topics from Maaori history and culture – in both the old world (pre-european contact 3000BC - 1830) and te ao hou (the new world 1830 - today). Topics can be decided by the group and may include;

Some of the migration theories out of SE Asia and into the Pacific and then voyaging on to NZ, and some of the early Maaori settlements.
A look at some topics concerning Maaori society/culture, food gathering/hunting, gardening and medical knowledge - both old and new world that the group may be interested in.

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 in The Wood, at a time negotiable with the group.

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

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

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.

Members to 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 book or part of one, or someone’s personal writing would be read to a group of residents. A tea/coffee break and a bit more reading. No more than about an hour’s worth. The second part could be read from the reader’s own writing, or some other object of interest or more of the book. I would like the residents, if possible, to take an active part in shaping the format of the meetings.

The first book we will be reading from, will be The Banksia House Breakout by James Roxburgh. It was suggested by one of the Readers, and it is not only a fun book but also very appropriate.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

The ideas and ideals behind political thinking. Aotearoa and the world. Subjects chosen at the will of the group.

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."

Aims to increase understanding of topics as diverse as Inflation, Consumer Price Index, Bankruptcy, Taxation, Maori Economy.

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.

Content; viewing and discussing notable gardens from around the world: e.g. Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, The Eden Project, Les Quatre Vents, the gardens of the Loire Valley, Italian gardens, Japanese gardens, the Mughal gardens of India. There are so many: group members will be encouraged to share their "garden" preferences.
Viewings will be from YouTube.

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. xxx

The Geology course is a series of practical hands-on sessions. A lot of rocks will be handled and examined, with the aim of understanding their make-up and what we can learn about the environments in which they were formed.
We will look at different types of geological structures, plate tectonics, classic NZ landforms, some Nelson and NZ geology, fossils and a local field trip if possible.

The content of the course is (wait for it) not fixed in stone. It can vary according to the specific interests of the group and may include a practical session on cleaning fossils for show, or a DVD on mass extinctions or the fate of the dinosaurs.

In short, it is not an academic study but rather one to get you thinking about our past environments.

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.

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

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

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 members 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

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 take turns to select and present the talks.

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

TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design.

A general knowledge quiz once a month at The Honest Lawyer, Monaco. It will be a sociable morning. As a condition of having free use of the Honest Lawyer’s side room we must purchase drinks and food. The scones are rumoured to be very good!

A book discussion group that uses the WEA System.

NB: An annual membership subscription fee of $60 + postage to WEA applies to each member.

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