About Us

U3A Meadowbank is part of an international educational movement for people no longer in fulltime work or family responsibilities seeking stimulating educational and social opportunities as a new phase of life opens up.

There are U3A (University of the Third Age) associations throughout the world, across New Zealand, and more than 25 in the Auckland Region alone.

Each association is autonomous, organising its own programme, governance and affairs independently, 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 expected 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 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.

U3A Meadowbank meets on the 3rd Monday of each month January-November. Each meeting consists of a short session of mini-speakers, morning tea and a Speaker chosen for their excellence and interest from a wide range of fields, in Arts, Science, Education, Community and Current issues.

29 different Interest Groups are offered within a month. This provides individual members with opportunity to contribute according to their own interests and skills, across a wide range of topics and help create the friendship, stimulation and challenge at the heart of U3A's intention.