A warm welcome to 2026 and to U3A Ōpāwaho, the newest U3A (University of the Third Age) in Canterbury.  In February we celebrated our first anniversary and we are proud of our achievements since we began.  
We are part of an international network with several thousand U3A groups across multiple countries throughout the world. Our aim is to promote life-long learning in a positive environment where we can make new friends, study new topics and share our experiences. 
We meet at 10am on the second Tuesday of each month at St Marks Anglican Church, Opawa Road, Christchurch to enjoy a coffee and listen to a guest speaker. 
We cover a wide range of interests and activities - everything from cycling to movies, wine appreciation to gardening, writing your memoir/family history, discussing the latest novel or appreciating fine wines, digital photography or the complexities of artificial intelligence.  You will find these and other interest groups in the following pages.
The 16th century English writer, poet and essayist Samuel Johnson wrote: ‘Curiosity is one of the permanent and certain characteristics of a vigorous intellect.’ It is as true today as it was then.
   
Opposite: The beauty of autumn in all its magical colours. 
photo courtesy of Linda O'Reilly