Ellie's Place

28/07/2015

Did you know that we have a community noticeboard in Pioneer Women's Hall (Ellen Melville) stairwell? If you've got a local event happening send us a message with the poster and we'll stick it up for you!

24/03/2015

Wednesday nights in the downstairs room of Ellen Melville Hall now play host to the Jedi Knights Chess Club! Join them each Wednesday from 6-9pm to play competitively and learn more about the ancient game- open to kids and adults alike.

12/03/2015

A sweet all-ages show is happening in the hall on March 21st! A LOW HUM is putting on gigs all around the country and we're lucky enough to have one featuring Fly Nights, Career Girls, Totems, and Jon Lemmon! $15 and doors from 9pm.

A Movement Tour, Pioneer Womens Hall, Auckland Sat, 21 March - Gigs and events at Undertheradar.co.nz.

12/03/2015

Dr. Marilyn Waring spoke on International Women's Day on gender equality and how much work New Zealand still needs to do to achieve it at a breakfast in Parliament. Dr. Waring spoke to Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand National about her speech, and she reminded us of a certain woman we celebrated on the same night of March 8- Miss Melville herself.

Have a listen to the conversation between Dr. Waring and Kim Hill here-

02/03/2015

Auckland Regional Migrant Services Charitable Trust (ARMS) are holding a series of workshops in the Pioneer Women's Hall every Monday during the month of April. The series is a four-part workshop for newcomers called Embracing Change.
Call 09 625 2440 or email [email protected] to book.

26/02/2015

Sunday March 8 is International Women's Day! Since here we're all about standing on the shoulders of Auckland city centre's herstory we're having a special event to celebrate the life of Ellen Melville. Speakers include Sandra Coney, Julie Fairey, and Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse, and you're invited! Details in the link below- we'll see you from 5.45pm in the main hall Sunday 8 March.

Ellen Melville was the first female Councillor in Auckland and spent her life as an activist for women's rights.

24/02/2015

The Splice2014 drop-in yoga session today at lunchtime is cancelled due to illness, but Nina and Anu will be back next Wednesday at 12pm with mats and everything for your lunch-break!

17/02/2015

Our lovely yoga teachers Anu and Nina have cancelled today's lunchtime session due to a double-booking, but not to worry! They'll be back from 12pm next Wednesday for a free drop-in yoga session in Ellen Melville Hall.

10/02/2015

The Central City Tai Chi group is back for 2015 from this Thursday in the main hall- and they're kicking off the start of the new term with a bit of a celebration! From 5.30-6.30pm every Thursday evening, beginners welcome!

10/02/2015

Body and Mind Time is starting back tomorrow morning- all parents with littlies are welcome to come along for some fun thanks to Auckland City Libraries and YMCA Auckland, from 9.30-10.30am at Pioneer Women's Hall, Freyberg Place.

08/02/2015

It's been a month since Ellie had a home in the city, but lucky for her (and all the users of the Pioneer Women's Hall!) now she's got a place to stick around!

A great big noticeboard has been installed at the right-hand entrance to the Hall and here is where you can submit your notices for inner-city happenings and events going on in the venue to be displayed. Message Ellie's Place with a soft copy of your poster and it'll go up on the board in no time.

08/01/2015

Ellie has her eye on the last Dahi puri for lunch

07/01/2015

Rolling with the homies on Ellie's day off

30/12/2014

Stay sun smart like Ellie these holidays, friends.

29/12/2014

Pioneer Women's & Ellen Melville Hall is quiet this week and next as our users spend time with friends and family (and hopefully chilling at a beach somewhere!) Let's see where Ellie turns up around the city...

22/12/2014

Illridewithyou Auckland: Ellen Melville would probably have been one of the Flying Scarves standing in solidarity with women in Auckland on Friday.

15/12/2014

Ever been curious about the ancient art of Tai Chi? Mik founded a class at Pioneer Women's Hall and shares his experiences here:

"I'm a central city fanatic and self confessed Tai Chi nut who lives near Queens Wharf.

We use the main hall as an excellent space for Tai Chi classes. It is light and roomy, as Tai Chi requires a fair amount of space in which to gracefully (and slowly) fling your arms and legs around. Many of the other venues I practice Tai Chi at are simply too small for a group of any decent size. There is a limiting effect on being able to turn off the chatter of the mind, if you are constantly concerned that your "repulsing of the monkey" is going to get tangled with that of your neighbour.

The immediate central city had no regular Tai Chi group, which has meant for many of us we were to be forced to leave the neighbourhood and travel out into the wilds of the 'burbs to get our fix of Tai Chi instruction in a formal class. Pioneer Women's Hall is the best of all worlds. A wonderful warm space that looks out onto trees and the water feature of Freyberg Square and is conveniently placed in the centre of the city.

A combination of central city residents and local workers come along, age and ability are no barrier. At the moment I'd class us a beginners group and no one can truly say they ever become a master of Tai Chi. The class is taught by Bruno who is skilled in handing on to others what he has learnt from decades of practice. He is very mindful that the practice of Tai Chi is gentle and relaxed and that injuries that many of us carry, can be accounted for through adaptation of forms, that will in turn quietly aid recovery over time.

A standard session will involve warming up all the joints through the body, some silk reeling, tai chi forms and Qigong. You do also get to learn to "wave your hands like clouds" and "part the wild horses mane" etc.
An observation I have made while running this class is that particularly nice people are attracted to learning and practicing tai chi - a charmingly low key way to develop neighbourly relationships."

Thursdays 5.30 - 6.30pm
Pioneer Women's Hall
Next term starts on Thursday 12 February 2014 - 16 April
Loose clothing and payment by the term
Everyone most welcome

15/12/2014

Ellen Melville got her early legal training at the Auckland firm of Devore and Cooper (later Devore and Martin), who encouraged her to study law at Auckland University College night classes.

Sandra Coney, Melville Eliza Ellen, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

& Sandi Hall for curating.

12/12/2014

It's tonight! All Ages / From 5.30pm. Check out UnderTheRadar.co.nz for ticket details.

The best GIFs are on Giphy

09/12/2014

This weekend AGEOLD takes over Ellen Melville Hall with bands like Trust Punks, The Keepaways, Miss June and Die! Die! Die! playing from 5.30pm Saturday December 13th. Tickets are only 15 bucks and of course it's open to all ages! Head to UnderTheRadar.co.nz to get your tickets!

08/12/2014

Splice2014 presents Your Yoga - In Your Community on Wednesday lunchtimes, drop in and grab a mat!

Have you been along to yoga in the city yet? Every Wednesday from 12-1.30pm at Ellie's Place feel free to drop in whenever you want and stay for however long you can. All mats are provided and you have the chance to meet some lovely people!

08/12/2014

Check out this interview with Trust Punks from UnderTheRadar.co.nz who are playing as part of a mammoth all ages show Saturday the 13th December at Ellen Melville Hall!

Interview: Trust Punks - Music News at Undertheradar

07/12/2014

Ellen Melville’s chief life-interest was the advancement of women by advocating their involvement in public life.

Sandra Coney, Melville Eliza Ellen, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

& Sandi Hall for curating.

06/12/2014

Danielle from UnderTheRadar.co.nz interviewed The Keepaways before they come our way to play AGEOLD Fest on December 13 at Ellen Melville Hall. Check it out to see what you can expect from these Brisbanite biomedical scientists of Trip Punk...

Brisbane-based trip-punk outfit The Keepaways will be jumping the ditch next month to play at the inaugural Ageold Festival, an event that will see... - The Keepaways - Interviews at Undertheradar

05/12/2014

PSA: City Designer's Market has moved to Silo Park on Saturdays for the summer BUT don't worry because they're still holding down Fridays at Ellen Melville!

04/12/2014

Following the lead of lawyer Ethel Benjamin, in 1909 Ellen Melville became the second woman to establish her own legal practice.

CREDIT: Sandra Coney, Melville Eliza Ellen, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

And Sandi Hall for curating.

03/12/2014

If you're hanging around town after work today and after some calm from the week, why not try out Tai Chi? Drop in from 5.30pm at the Ellen Melville Hall.

02/12/2014

Local author and Herstorian Sandi Hall has curated a whole bunch of interesting bits and pieces of information about Ellen Melville for us to share, first up, the diverse hobbies of a pioneering woman!

Ellen Melville’s leisure interests included native plants and motoring. She like fashionable clothes, often making her own, including her hats. [Which as you can see in her photo, were fabulous!]

CREDIT: Sandra Coney, Melville Eliza Ellen, from the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, Te Ara, the Encyclopedia of New Zealand

01/12/2014

Want a relaxing way to spend your lunch break? Splice2014 presents FREE drop-in yoga from 12-1.30pm Wednesday afternoons (mats provided in the Hall!)

And if you've been hankering to put your brain to the test the Jedi Knights Chess Club is on from 6pm tomorrow in the upstairs conference room.

29/11/2014

that in 1911 the YWCA Women's Club was formed with Ellen Melville at the helm!

28/11/2014

Are you after a space to hang out in with other cool cats which is safe, inclusive + generous in the way of (free) pizza? Rainbow Youth Pop-Up is open for you to drop by from 6pm tonight in the upstairs Ellen Melville room.

It's close to the Britomart bus stops and open until midnight!

[insert rainbow + pizza emojis]

26/11/2014

Just as Ellen Melville is an icon of Auckland's Herstory her memorial building is an icon for Aucklanders today! Please share this page around and we'll keep her legacy alive and kicking for all new Aucklanders to come.

25/11/2014

Hey to all of you who like to keep fit and healthy: Wednesday at the Hall's the place to be!

Come to Body & Mind Time, a free event every Wednesday morning from 9.30-10.30. It aims to be tough but fun! And if you've got little ones they'll be engaged in story-telling and movement games.

http://www.eventfinder.co.nz/2014/body-and-mind-time/Auckland

And don't forget: the ladies from Your Yoga - In Your Community take FREE drop-in yoga sessions in the Hall from 12-1.20pm, and you can stay for as long or as little as you like (and mats are provided!)

Body and Mind Time, Join us for music, songs, movement ..., Pioneer Women's and Ellen Melville Hall, Auckland, Auckland, 12 November 2014 - 26 November 201

23/11/2014

Ellen Melville was the first female City Councillor in New Zealand?