Study Groups

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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 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.

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."

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

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.

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

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 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.

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

A group for those who enjoy listening to classical music or would like to find out more. We explore various themes such as music from a particular country and take it in turns to present our own choices to the group.

Short term study group(4 sessions in total meeting weekly)
What the end of a good "long long" life may look like....the choices you may make and how you may choose to communicate that. This group is not suitable for those - with a newly diagnosed condition
- who are recently bereaved
- still grieving from a previous loss

An exploration of differing political systems. We examine country by country, researching and presenting how each country elects their political leaders, discussing how the political landscape affects the people.

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.

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.

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.

This group will study the origins and evolution of the genre once known as 'race music' and which we now call the Blues from its earliest-known performers through to the present day.

Why do some movies have you getting out of your seat with a spring in your step and a smile on your face? What makes it work? A reviewing of some favourite films - rom coms / classics comedies.
No serious films here

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 . . . .

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

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

8 x 2-hour sessions – Power Point presentation with questions/discussion
Cost - $2 per person per session to cover room hire.

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 book discussion group that uses the WEA System.

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