U3A Hamilton Monthly Meetings
| Date | Third Wednesday of each month |
|---|---|
| Time | Meeting starts at 10am. Coffee after the meeting |
| Where | Cooperating Church Hall, 124 Comries Road, Chartwell. |
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Sarah Munro
Sarah Munro is an artisan and her practice extends from large scale sculptures to her more recent series of small-scale embroideries. She was born in Kirikiriroa, Aotearoa and received a Doctorate in Fine Arts at Elam School of Fine Arts at the University of Auckland. Munro has been the recipient of
artist residencies including the Frances Hodgkins Fellowship at the University of Otago. Sarah is represented by Page Galleries.
About the Meeting
Sarah Munro’s ongoing art series Trade Items has been described as embroidered environmental advocacy . In the context of this series her ‘traded items’ work as
symbolic substitutes for historical currency and goods that represent the ecological devastation, colonial legacy, and shifting biodiversity of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Rather than denoting simple economic commerce, Munro uses the concept of a trade item to build upon and reframe a historic 1769 drawing by the Tahitian navigator Tupaia—which originally documented the ‘first contact’ barter of a kōura (crayfish) for a piece of English cloth.
By treating the needle as a tool for critical inquiry rather than domestic decoration, Munro reframes a historically marginalized craft into a site of political and historical commentary. In rendering these items via the highly laborious, time-intensive medium of embroidery, the trade items become tools to thoughtfully critique agricultural practices, habitat loss, and colonisation.
Wednesday 19 August 2026
Roger Cox
Roger taught science and biology at Fairfield College for over 40 years and loved working in the diverse community that recognised individuals for themselves and what they could contribute. Having no uniform allowed students a greater level of freedom to express themselves. Roger developed a horticulture course in the 1980s. After he retired nearly 10 years ago Roger became very involved in the Fairfield Project that is
the subject of this talk.
About the Meeting
This Fairfield Project utilises surplus College land for environmental education and Gully restoration purposes. It makes a strong connection to Ngaati Wairere, as mana whenua, and aims to restore the perimeter of the gully back to the way it was. The gully and gardens developed on site provide the context for educational activities, including the planting of native trees.
The green space we are developing is a hidden oasis among suburban Hamilton.
Wednesday 15 July 2026
Michael Gurnsey
Michael started his career as a technician in the Applied Biochemistry Division of DSIR in Palmerston North in 1970, working on bloat in cattle. As a mature student he completed a PhD at Massey University in the Physiology and Anatomy
Department of the Veterinary School. He returned to a position as a scientist with ABD working on a variety of diverse subjects such as fibre growth in goats, controlled release of drugs and predetermination of sex by sperm sorting. During much of his time he also ran the surgery facilities at ABD including carrying out surgery for his own research as well as for other scientists. After redundancy, he
became a health and safety consultant and auditor working as a contactor for ACC.
Since retirement, Michael has pursued his interests in music, the arts, Wedgwood, family history and military history.
About the Meeting
Michael will discuss the use of AI, particularly Copilot, as a research assistant. He will describe its use in family and military history research to answer specific questions. He will discuss research strategies, the sources AI is using, rabbit holes,
opportunities for further research and the variety of outputs AI can produce.
Examples of problems and outputs will be discussed.
Wednesday 17 June 2026
Neil Curgenven
Neil Curgenven went to high school in Taumarunui. Leaving school, he joined the Ministry of Works as a civil draughting cadet and later completed the Certificate in Draughting. He worked in private practice and then joined Carters as their
manufacturing manager. After a short career in advertising, Neil attended Victoria University obtaining a Diploma in Business Administration in 1985. In 2011 Neil moved to Hamilton and managed Blue Cross Property Services. He joined Stonewood Homes and in 2017 moved into Health and Safety Consulting with Summit Systems.
His other interests include Jaycees and Rotary. He is President of the Waikato Historical Society and has an interest in gardening.
About the Meeting
This month’ speaker is our very own Neil Curgenven, sans fluoro jacket. Neil will give a brief description analysis of the different types and styles of housing in Hamilton, covering the period 1865 to 1990 with some reference to today’s market.
Wednesday 20 May 2026
Gail Pittaway
Now retired from fulltime teaching, Dr Gail Pittaway was a Senior Lecturer in the School of Media Arts at Wintec, teaching writing, media history, storytelling, myth and ritual. She is a co-editor of Meniscus online literary journal, has had poetry and short stories published, and has been a regular book reviewer on Radio New Zealand’s Nine-to-Noon programme, since 2006.
About the Meeting
In her presentation, Gail will share some of the findings and challenges of writing her PhD thesis. Gail’s doctoral project was a personal memoir embedded within a discussion about food memoir as a genre.
The memoir explores a personal history of food styling, preparation and consumption from her beginnings in a working-class family, through flatting from university days, then working as a secondary schoolteacher, and overseas travel.
Both the memoir and discussion consider colonial and post-colonial food, changes in food fashions, the influence of Māori practices, early cookbooks, and the rise of media stars from Aunt Daisy on radio through to the rise of the celebrity television chefs.
Wednesday 15 April 2026
Rob Harley
Rob Harley is one of New Zealand’s most experienced journalists and communicators. His fifty-year career as a writer across all mediums has involved him telling dramatic stories in Aotearoa, and some of the most dangerous places in the world, from where he has constructed award-winning programmes seen by millions.
As a television reporter, Rob specialised in advocacy journalism. His efforts in the early 1980’s exposed the shocking state of hospital conditions for children in Auckland and led to the eventual building of Starship Hospital. A few years later he teamed up with other reporters to campaign for better road safety in New Zealand and this journalism partly led to the reduction of the road toll from 858 in 1973 a low of 250 by 2020.
He also exposed major deficiencies in other parts of the health system - especially psychiatric care - leading to significant reforms.
Internationally his journalism has tracked down the murderer of a Kiwi photojournalist, uncovered the truth behind several airline disasters, and led to the establishment of major aid programmes in the Third World.
About the Meeting
“Rob specialises in subjects such as building resilience, coping with depression and mental illness, tales of lives redeemed from all manner of pain, and tells amazing stories about the astonishing people he has met from his role both behind and in front of the camera.
Rob’s documentary-making efforts have helped to build a number of highly successful aid organisations in places like Romania, India, Ghana, Cambodia and many other settings.
He regularly takes time out to support all manner of charities, including the mentoring of at-risk youth and work among refugees in several countries.
Rob weaves into his presentations some of the most profoundly moving stories you’ll ever hear, complete with high-impact video clips from his many documentaries.
He has also written nine books on a variety of subjects – his latest are called ‘Relentless – People who wouldn’t quit, stories that wouldn’t die.’, and ‘The Courage of Women’ in which he explores the bravery and resilience of 11 incredible women who have overcome huge odds to bring about profound societal change in New Zealand and around the world.. ”
Wednesday 18 March 2026
Maria Lupton
Maria and her husband were both raised on farms and were farming in Northland when they began supplying leeches from their Northland farm to Auckland Zoo, and then to Middlemore Hospital, about 36 years ago. After moving to the King Country they took leeches with them, eventually expanding to a busy full-time operation, before recently retiring.
About the Meeting
“Maria will start with how they got into supplying leeches, the path of their business over the years, how leeches work and why hospitals need them so much. ”
Wednesday 18 February 2026
Matthew Brown
Matthew joined Craig's Investment Partners in May 2023, bringing with him a wealth of experience from a seven-year tenure as an Investment Manager in London. He also has a background as a freelance financial writer, covering global share markets. Matt advises clients across all aspects of investing, specialising in portfolio management for private clients, family trusts, and Kiwisaver.
About the Meeting
“Matthew's talk will focus on investing and financial decision-making for retirees in a practical easy-to-understand way. Topics will include investing beyond term deposits in a lower interest rate environment, understanding income options and diversification, and a plain-English update on current economic and market conditions. The session aims to help attendees feel more confident about their financial future.”
Wednesday 19 November 2025
Rita Dionisio
Rita is currently a senior lecturer in geography at the Universtiy of Waikato at both Hamilton and Tauranga campuses. Her background includes a PhD and a Master's in Architecture from the University of Tokyo, specialised in urban studies.
About the Meeting
“Fostering liveable environments is important in contemporary city-making, and this presentation examines key factors of walkability and liveability in two case studies, with practical and conceptual tools for residents and practitioners seeking to shape urban places that reflect collective realities, values and aspirations.”
Wednesday 15 October 2025
Kate Darrow
Kate has a BA in Art History from the University of Canterbury, an MA in Art Education from the City University, London, and a Diploma in Business from the University of Auckland. She has worked on many public art projects, curating major civic sculptures for Hamilton City and other temporary sculpture projects such as Waiheke Island's Sculpture on the Gulf and the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail. Kate has a role at Waikato Hospital, developing an art collection and education programme aimed at enhancing the well-being of patients, staff, and visitors. IN a voluntary capacity, Kate acts as an art advisor and curator for Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari, creating exhibitions by leading New Zealand artists to raise funds and awareness for this important ecological project.
About the Meeting
“Kate will take us through the intrinsic value of the Waikato Hospital art works, and the significance and meaning of some specific pieces.”
Wednesday 17 September 2025
Sam Edwards
Sam Edwards is a retired University of Waikato academic, arts critic and Patron of
the Friends of the Museum. He is a co-author of New Zealand Film 1912 – 1996 and
has been a frequent columnist in the Waikato Times.
About the Meeting
“A lifetime of film – it started with visits to Gene Autry and Johnny Weissmuller when
I was six has – led me through a remarkable exposure to the biggest con job in
human history and Hollywood’s ongoing determination to make audiences believe
that what they were seeing was the truth.”
Wednesday 21 May 2025
Nona Morris
MA, is a researcher and diversity educator for EarthDiverse. She has undergraduate degrees in Human Biology and Anthropology, and post-graduate degrees (MA) in Anthropology and Education. She has worked in the field of education for the last 30 years, working across all sectors from early childhood through university and adult mentoring, and has taught in a variety of fields including biology, ecology, social science, research methodology, and learning and assessment practice. She also teaches in the early childhood and primary school sectors. Prior to moving to New Zealand, Nona has lived, studied and worked in Kenya, Tanzania, Liberia, Pakistan, Nepal and the USA.
About the Meeting
EarthDiverse is a not-for-profit social enterprise offering a wide range of Diversity Education courses in both the social and natural sciences. Through increased knowledge and understanding, they hope to mitigate racism, discrimination and environmental degradation through courses, seminars, activities and events that aspire to strengthen social cohesion.