Queenstown's University of the Third Age (U3A) is helping more than 220 people over the age of 55 continue learning.
University chairwoman Mary Stamers-Smith said the U3A movement began in France in the mid-1970s and had now spread around the world.
"U3A is a response to the idea that human life is divided into three periods. Firstly, childhood and schooling, secondly, child rearing and work and thirdly, retirement. The third age is seen as an important opportunity for listening, learning and understanding.
"It is during retirement that people can put into practice the idea of a university as a community of like-minded people who seek a greater understanding of life."
She said she founded the Wakatipu group after she became frustrated with the lack of learning opportunities for people in her age group.
"I woke up one morning and thought, why don't we have something for our age group? I didn't want to learn how to be a barista."
A friend told her about a U3A course in Wanaka so with the help of Southern REAP she organised a public meeting for Queenstown in October last year.
"I had set up about 20 chairs but I couldn't believe it when a big long snake of people started coming in. We had over 100 people at that first meeting," she said.
The group now has more than 220 members who attend lectures on topics from current affairs to law.
Next month, the series will be on education, with four speakers, including Remarkables Park principal Deborah Dickson.
In September, the group will look at sustainability, October will focus on Wakatipu history and November, music.
The group also has study groups under way on Keats and the Romantic period, international cuisine and economics.
Mrs Stammers-Smith said U3A used the great knowledge, skills and experience of older people in an informal and friendly way. There were no compulsory activities and lectures were held in the daytime.
• U3A membership costs $10 a year and lectures cost $5 each.
