U3A stands for University of the Third Age. The term third age means no longer in full time work. U3A provides opportunities for people to meet, share experiences and pursue commonly held interests.
The club meets monthly with a guest speaker who has unique experience in their field. Interest (study) groups meet at other times and it is encouraged that members belong to at least one study group.
The annual subscription is $35. 
Subscription due on the 1st February.

From the President

Welcome to our August Newsletter.

From the Editor

The recent very cold weather has been a reminder for me of the need to find somewhere warmer for this midwinter period or be prepared to use lots of our store of firewood. I hope you have managed to keep warm in the cold.

The Commonwealth Games has provided great opportunities to see some amazing performances from New Zealand athletes. I hope you have been able to enjoy watching some of the performances.

Our July Speaker was Dr Reuben Woods, and we were treated to a wonderful display of photographs of street art, mainly from Christchurch. The photographs and the information about the artists and stories behind the art were enough to remind me to visit the city and follow the art trails. “Watchthisspace.org.nz” has a map of the current exhibits and you can sign up to receive updates of exhibits.

Our guest speaker for our meeting on 12 August is ,DR TIM CHAMBERS, Associate Professor, Canterbury University, Ngai Tahu Research Centre

Dr Tim Chambers will be speaking on Drinking water quality: Implications for our health”.

Tim is a Fulbright Scholar (Harvard University) and Associate Professor in the Ngāi Tahu Research Centre. His research interests include environmental health and infectious diseases. Tim’s current research investigates the potential health burden of drinking water contamination, with a focus on nitrate contamination. In this talk, Tim will outline his team’s research on drinking water quality and public health in New Zealand. Tim will share research from various studies including the association between nitrate contamination in drinking water and preterm birth, a national assessment of the burden of disease attributable to community water supplies and the effectiveness of community water fluoridation on oral health.

From the ‘Committee as reported in the last newsletter –

• We can confirm that the 2026 Christmas function will be held on Wednesday 9 December at Addington Raceway, Level 3 of the Metropolitan Stand, in the Terror in Love Lounge. Access to this 3^rd floor venue is by lift or escalators. It will be a 2 course ‘sit-down’, Christmas -themed, buffet style meal, with teas/coffee included, and a full bar service available (at extra cost). We are hoping to have 100 plus attendees at this event, so please note the date in your calendars now.Full details re menu, cost and speaker will be presented at the September monthly meeting and September newsletter. We do believe that this has the makings of a very special and reasonably priced event. Watch this space!

• Name tags. If you are a new member, your name tag will be available for you to pick up at the next meeting you attend. Existing members yet to collect name tags – These will also be available each meeting.
• If you are interested in joining a Special Interest group, please feel free to contact special interest group leaders using the contacts supplied in this newsletter. Alternatively, you can access the U3A website / click on Special Interest groups and fill out an information request sheet there.https://www.u3aswchch.org.nz/

• Thank you to those who put out the chairs and stack them at the end of the meeting. Please do not stack the chairs as you push them to the back of the room as they become too heavy for those who put them away.

I look forward to seeing you all next week .Keep warm and stay well.
Ngā mihi nui
Lynne Bull

Next Meeting Details

• Date: Wednesday, 12th August 2026
• Venue: Te Hapua, The Halswell Library, Mahao Room
• 9.45 am: Chairs for meeting put out. The committee would appreciate assistance with this
• 10.00 am: Tea and Coffee available
• 10.15 am: Meeting will begin so please be seated
• 10.30 am: Speaker will start
• Followed by Mid-winter Lunch

Dates for 2026 Meetings for your diary
Meetings are the 2nd Wednesday of the Month 10.00 am to 11.30 am
September 9th
October 14th
November 11th
December 9th