Explore

Create something beautiful for your home and garden. Discover the delights of mosaic design and learn how to use materials such as broken tiles, china and shells to make a mosaic frame, pot plant holder or other simple objects. A list of materials (approx cost $70) will be sent out before the course starts.

Always wanted to keep bees but thought it's not possible in the city? Richard can explain how in this very popular course!

Find out how honey is extracted, recognise and prevent swarming, manage pests and construct a hive. Includes a visit to an apiary so bring your beekeeper's outfit – you will be working with bees during the visit.

Keen to keep hens at home but not sure where to begin? Find out all the details from someone who knows the ins and outs.

Liven up your living room or bedroom with your own drum lampshade - get that professional finish, even if you have no previous sewing experience. Bring 1 metre of a firm woven fabric of your choice, a pair of fabric scissors, measuring tape, tailors' chalk and a 30cm ruler. The cost of the frame and other related materials is included in course fee.

Come along and learn how to make your very own Roman blind, to give your rooms an elegant and streamlined look. Not for beginners. A list of materials will be emailed to you before course starts.

Always wanted to learn how to knit but never been sure where to begin? Join craft tutor Stella Carruthers as she teaches the basic principles of knitting in this fun, informative and supportive class. Come along and learn the essential building blocks of knitting, using only knitting needles, yarn and your hands!

Come along and find out how easy it is to make your very own beeswax candles to give your home a delightful ambience! All materials included in course fee.

Every garden has the potential to be beautiful! In this course you will design the garden of your dreams, no matter what your gardening experience or drawing abilities. Focusing on the most important aspect – landscaping – you will confidently create a garden to suit your style and needs.

You can create the garden of your dreams! Taking into account the challenges, conditions and the site of your own garden, you will learn which plants and arrangements will best suit the area to achieve your vision.

Come and learn how to make a dried flower wreath (25-30cm wide) with Red Ruth from Bloomin Heck Wreaths. All materials included in course fee.

Come make a Christmas wreath using a combination of evergreen fresh foliage and dried flowers. All materials included in course fee.

Do you want to take your knitting to the next level? Developed for students who have attended CEC’s Beginner’s Knitting course, join craft tutor Stella Carruthers as she teaches tips and tricks for next tier knitting in a 3-hour intensive. In this workshop you will learn about some of the technical aspects of knitting in a supportive environment.

Come and learn how to make a dried flower meadow hoop (25cm wide) with Red Ruth from Bloomin Heck Wreaths. All materials included in course fee.

Tai Chi is meditation in motion and beneficial for your health, balance and concentration.

Improve your flexibility, strength and breathing and learn techniques to help you relax and sleep better - suitable for all levels.

Good posture is your birthright and shouldn't involve thought or effort. Using Feldenkrais® movement lessons, you'll unravel inefficient postural habits and discover new levels of comfort.

Gain basic practical skills, to help begin the process of communicating in an assertive manner. (NZ Citizens and residents pay $79 with ID, all others pay $149).

Pelvic floor muscles become weakened, often after childbirth, and can cause incontinence, constipation or frequent urination. These Feldenkrais Method® techniques will help you regain muscle efficiency and tone. For women only.

Based on modern psychology and ancient philosophy, mindfulness meditation is for anyone who'd like to have some fresh insights into what makes up our quality of life.

Like to be able to give massages to friends and family with a bit more knowledge and confidence? Join this introduction to the basics of massage, held over two sessions - you must enrol with a partner.

Crochet is great for settling the mind and encouraging relaxation. Learn to do basic stitches, read patterns and complete projects in a relaxed and friendly space – left handers very welcome. Please bring some 4 or 8 ply smooth yarn and a crochet hook.

A practical workshop that will introduce you to a structured and easy-to-follow method to take yourself into hypnosis and use it to your benefit. Let go of old habits and form new ones, brighten your future, excel in your career and create excellence.

Ask the big question – what is the ‘Why’ of your life? Reflect on your emotional needs. Learn how to identify an overarching purpose and a wider meaning that is larger than yourself. Work with your personal values to develop a life purpose statement and goals that can guide how you live, work and play. (NZ Citizens and residents free with ID, all others pay $109).

Zentangle® method is an easy to learn, relaxing and fun method to create amazing images by drawing structured patterns. If you can hold a pen, you can do this! In this course you will learn to make beautiful zen-art, following the 8 steps of the Zentangle® method from a certified Zentangle teacher. All materials included in course fee.

Calligratherapy combines science journalist James Nestor's theory on proper breathing with the philosophy of ancient Chinese calligraphy to promote a state of optimal wellbeing. Over five weeks, you will develop and practice the awareness of healthy breathing while learning new techniques of Chinese soft brush calligraphy covering five different scripts. All materials included in course fee.

Neurodiversity seems to be a hot topic of discussion lately. Famous singers such as Lewis Capaldi and Sia and actors such as Ryan Gosling and Channing Tatum, have discussed their neurodiverse conditions. Lockdowns and social media have driven many adults to have startling realisations about their own neurodiverse conditions. It seems suddenly – all at once – the world has become aware that 15-20% of people have different types of brains. (NZ citizens and residents free with ID, others pay listed price.)

Movement and function can be challenging for women as we age. Join experienced physiotherapist Sara Dore and explore how you can manage the effects on your health and wellbeing as you age as a woman.

Mental Health is a term we hear everywhere now and yet after “Are you okay?” it all goes silent. We know we need to improve our mental health understanding and the way we treat ourselves and other people having mental health challenges. (NZ citizen and residents free with ID, all others pay$99).

Join us for a no-nonsense, straight-talking session on men’s health and aging. Discover how to stay strong, sharp, and in control as the years go by. It's time to break the silence and tackle the issues that matter most—your energy, vitality, and longevity. Don’t let aging slow you down. Step up, connect with other men, and take charge of your health.

Qigong, pronounced “chi gong,” was developed in China thousands of years ago as part of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves using exercises to optimize energy within the body, mind, and spirit, with the goal of improving and maintaining health and well-being.

A hands-on, one-day workshop blending mindfulness, neuroscience, and self-awareness to help you feel better, relate better, and live with more clarity and purpose. (NZ Citizens and residents free with photo ID, all others pay $149).

Fabulous at forty? Fantastic at fifty plus? Join our trained make-up artist and discover how to transform your look and highlight the best of what you’ve got. A list of what you need to bring will be sent out before the course starts.

Gain more confidence in your everyday life - learn ways to be strong and safe in many situations by using verbal, psychological and physical self-defence. You must be 16 years or older to join this class.

Gain basic practical skills, to help begin the process of communicating in an assertive manner. (NZ Citizens and residents pay $79 with ID, all others pay $149).

Parenting today delivers unprecedented challenges – are you wondering what went wrong and somehow you've ended up living with a child you don’t recognise belonging to you? Get a new perspective, an easy-to-understand model to follow and tools to help you to raise likeable and respectful children in an age of over-indulgence.

A practical workshop that will introduce you to a structured and easy-to-follow method to take yourself into hypnosis and use it to your benefit. Let go of old habits and form new ones, brighten your future, excel in your career and create excellence.

Need to “step up” and speak to an audience as part of your working life and find it difficult? This course will equip you with strategies to assist and provide opportunities to build your confidence in this role.

Whether you’re already retired, or planning ahead, this practical workshop will help you to reflect, re-envision and re-vitalise your life and develop a plan for your future, on your own terms. (NZ citizen and residents free with ID, all others pay listed price).

Have you done a DNA test with ancestry.com? Don't know what to do next? This course will cover the basics of what your DNA results mean. We'll look at the tools available on Ancestry.com and other DNA websites to help you use DNA for your family's history.