Our Events

We gather on the second Monday of each month (February to November) at 11.45am for a 12 noon start to listen to a speaker and enjoy lunch at the Hamilton Gardens Lakeside Cafe function room.

We welcome guests of members and just ask for $30 to cover the cost of a guest’s lunch.

Please let us know if you are coming, and if you are bringing a guest, by 10am on the Thursday prior to our meetings so we can confirm catering numbers.

Upcoming events

14 July 2025 - Harry Mowbray

Harry Mowbray

Harry Mowbray is an entrepreneur with a strong interest in New Zealand's industrial history.

Born and educated in Hamilton with a degree in physics and chemistry, Harry owns an engineering consultancy servicing the pulp and paper industry, runs a 500-head organic dairy farm in Tokoroa, and has established several companies with his children.

He also owns the historic Matangi Dairy Factory, which started as a creamery in 1885 and played a central role in the history of Anchor Butter, the NZ Dairy Association (later Fonterra), and Glaxo, being home to the first purpose-built Glaxo Dairy Factory outside Bunnythorpe. As well as restoring the historical buildings, Harry is also turning the site into a boutique commercial hub, housing 32 businesses so far.

Our 2025 speakers

10 February

Dame Diana Crossan DNZM

Former Retirement Commissioner
“Highlights of a public service career”

10 March

Valerie Millington
Author of “Ellen of Denniston”
“One day everything changed… A powerful and moving biography””

14 April

Founder’s Meeting in  Honour of Gwen Firth

Charlotte Muggeridge
Partner, Harkness Henry
“Experiences in environmental law”

12 May

Dr David Simcock
Chair, Auckland Library Heritage Trust, and
Member, Auckland History Initiative
“Achieving Primacy: The history of Auckland in the 1950s”

9 June

Gigi Crawford
CEO, Zealong Tea Estate
“The Zealong Tea story”

14 July

Partners’ Meeting

Harry Mowbray
Entrepreneur with many interests
“Revitalising our industrial history”

11 August

Dr Clare Brown
Animal Behaviourist
“Innovations in working with animals”

8 September

Marina Hape
Tangata Whenua Working Group (TWWG) Kaiarahi/Katiaki, and 
Sonia Baker
HCC Programme Manager – Peacocke
“Te Ara Pekapeka – Journey of partnership and collaboration”

13 October

Featured Club Speaker

Margaret Fish
Occupational Therapist
“Enabling people to live their best lives”

10 November

Annual General Meeting 2025

 

2024 Guest speaker Prof Alexander Gillespie with Awatere Club Committee members