Club News

Language is the key to understanding a culture and handy when communicating with family "back home" and when traveling... and helps ward off dementia! If you know two languages, every one after that comes more easily. These classes are free and it's fun. The list of advantages goes on!

If you, for whatever reason, don't speak Italian and therefore your children and grandchildren don't, this is your opportunity to learn with them.

And if you are not a member, that's easily fixed. See membership form below.

The next and only membership approval session before classes start in February is at our Sunday 14 December Exec Committee Meeting.

It only takes 5 minutes to fill out the form.

Proof of Italian citizenship or ancestry required.

Children up to 18 are free if just one parent is a member ($30) and even better both ($50).

Membership includes so many free and subsidised activities, you'll be wondering why you didn't do it before. See the list below.

The classes alone are worth $408/year for non-members. BARGAIN!

SPREAD THE WORD.

NOTE BENE #1: PLACES ARE LIMITED DUE TO TEACHER-STUDENT RATIO REQUIREMENTS!

FIRST IN, FIRST SEVERED.. no piano, piano here!

***

The Executive has agreed to support the learning of Italian for our members' children who are aged between 7 and 16 years old.

This initiative is in association with Circolo Italiano di Wellington Inc.'s and their Native Italian Speaker Teacher–Led Language Programme.

For the sake of clarity, given future changes in The Club’s financial circumstances (e.g. the purchase of alternative premises and associated costs) or changes to The Club’s Executive Committee (who may have other priorities) the following has been agreed by the Executive.

NOTA BENE #2: The Club will meet the cost of Circolo Italiano Tuition Fee for the child or children of a Club Garibaldi parent who is a current member of The Club for the full 2026 academic year, subject to the following restrictions:

1) The relationship between the child and its parent does not extend to a grandparent for the purposes of this concession; and the child must attend at least 50% of the available Italian language classes on offer each term to qualify.

2) The Term Tuition Fee is paid by the parent(s) at the beginning of each term and if all the conditions, as mentioned above, are met, a Grant shall be paid at the end of each term by The Club to the parent(s).

3) This should be regarded as a pilot scheme, which will be subject to annual review by The Club before the end of the

operating year (June) to enable The Circolo to advertise its new classes in good time.

REMINDER: There will be limited spaces available due to the Tutor-Child ratio requirements.

The Club looks forward to working with Circolo Italiano di Wellington Inc. as a continuation of the good relationship, which presently exists between us in facilitating this cultural objective.

FYI: The Circolo Italiano di Wellington Inc. have yet to post information about their 2026 classes for adults and children.

In the meantime, please refer to the 2025 Children's Classes section at bottom of this link to get an idea of how the classes work, how split between the different age groups:

To enroll your child/children in for the 2026 classes, please email Circolo Italiano di Wellington Inc. on inquiries@circoloitaliano.org.nz

****

1) Free Club activities like the annual picnic in Eastbourne in February, Italian National Day Celebrations in June, Club Garibaldi (Wellington) vs Club Italia (Nelson) football game in November, and the Children's Christmas Party and Seniors' Luncheon in December and Free parking at the Club after 6pm Monday to Friday and all day in the weekends year round... Oh, and now, a grant to cover the cost Italian Language Classes for members' children 7 to 16 years old and a $50 grant for members taking Adult Italian Language classes with the Circolo Italiano di Wellington. 

2) Subsidised Club activities like the annual "bus trip" in March, as well half price entry to Circolo events unless stated otherwise.

APPLY HERE NOW! https://www.clubgaribaldi.org.nz/becoming-a-member/