Attendance at an open A.A. meeting is the best way to learn what A.A. is and what it does. At meetings, A.A. members tell their stories – they describe their experiences with alcohol, how they came to A.A., and how their lives have changed as a result of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Search over 500 A.A. meetings in Aotearoa New Zealand
Attendance at an open A.A. meeting is the best way to learn what A.A. is and what it does. At meetings, A.A. members tell their stories – they describe their experiences with alcohol, how they came to A.A., and how their lives have changed as a result of Alcoholics Anonymous.
Find A.A. wherever you are! Meeting Guide is a free app supported by Seventh Tradition contributions. With over 100,000 weekly meetings currently listed, the app helps you quickly find A.A. meetings and resources by syncing with area, district, intergroup/central offices and international general service office websites around the world.
Request an update to an existing meeting or add a new meeting.
If your drinking is out of control, A.A. can help. Anyone with a desire to stop drinking is welcome, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, income, or profession. You don’t have to pay anything to attend. You can just sit and listen and learn more about recovery, or you can share about your situation. It’s completely up to you.
No. You can simply find a meeting that you would like to attend and show up. If you would like to speak to someone before attending your first meeting you can call us on 0800 229 6757or email [email protected] and we can put you in touch with an A.A. member in your area.
An A.A. meeting may take one of several forms, but at any meeting you will find alcoholics talking about what drinking did to their lives, their relationships, and their personalities; what actions they took to help themselves; and how they are living their lives today.
No. A.A. does not keep membership files or attendance records. You do not have to reveal anything about yourself. No one will bother you if you don’t want to come back.
A.A. members are not required to attend a set number of meetings – it is entirely up to each individual. However, many find that the more meetings they attend, the more they stay connected to the solution and strengthen their sobriety. For newcomers especially, going to more meetings early on provides vital support, encouragement, and contact with people who can share how they got sober and stay sober.
There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership and you do not need to pay to attend an A.A. meeting. However, at most meetings, a small voluntary collection is taken to cover basic operational expenses, such as renting the meeting space and providing essential refreshments like coffee. In some cases, groups also choose to allocate a portion of the collected funds to support A.A.’s broader mission – helping to spread the message of recovery to those still struggling with alcoholism. If you are a visitor to A.A. we ask that you do not contribute.
There are over 500 meetings every week in Aotearoa New Zealand. In-person meetings are often held in a community centres, church halls, or schools. Just because a meeting is held in a particular venue, doesn’t mean A.A. has any affiliation with the organisation who owns the building – we are simply renting the space. There are also many online meetings which you can attend wherever you are.
Anyone can attend an open meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous but only those with a desire to stop drinking will be asked to participate by sharing. A.A. welcomes families, healthcare workers, members of the professional community and anyone wanting to know more about A.A. and how it works to attend open meetings. If you are a visitor to A.A. we encourage you to introduce yourself to the group secretary before the meeting, so we can make you welcome.
An open meeting of A.A. is a group meeting that any member of the community, alcoholic or non-alcoholic, may attend. A closed meeting is for A.A. members only, or for those who have a drinking problem and have a desire to stop drinking.
We in A.A. believe there is no such thing as a cure for alcoholism. We can never return to normal drinking, and our ability to stay away from alcohol depends on maintaining our physical, mental and spiritual health through the process of working the Twelve Steps. We can achieve this by going to meetings regularly and putting into practice what we learn there. In addition, we find it helps us to stay sober if we help other alcoholics.
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Make sure your meeting details are up to date so that people looking for help can find you. Either use the form below or email [email protected].
Not sure what to expect at an A.A. meeting? Listen to members share their stories.
A comprehensive resource for anyone interested in learning more about A.A.
