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A Friendly Society with a Community Focus
Description
TitleA Friendly Society with a Community Focus
DescriptionLike in England and Australia, the UAOD in Aotearoa New Zealand was a friendly society, officially registered under the Friendly Society Act of 1877 (which developed from earlier acts in 1854 and 1856). The UAOD was created at a time when there was no state-funded social welfare. Aotearoa New Zealand did not begin institutionalising social welfare systems until the 1930s under the first Labour Government, with England only having done so in the 1910s.
The central purpose of friendly societies, therefore, was to fill this gap. The UAOD pooled money from membership fees, which helped cover both general and membership benefits such as sick pay, parental pay, doctors’ visits and medical prescriptions, and funeral cover. This was the main appeal of the UAOD, and friendly societies more generally. As Ivan Norton, a former member of Ethelbert Lodge stated, “It was a Benefit Lodge… It was mainly to help members before social security came in.” Aotearoa New Zealand’s welfare reforms may have even been based on the UAOD’s own benefits, although there is not enough evidence to back this up.
Alongside welfare benefits, UAOD lodges became important sources of connection, integral to the social activity of their communities. This was especially the case in smaller, more rural locations. Druids’ lodges ran members only events, such as meetings, galas, and inter-lodge/society sports events. However, they also organised other events that were open to the wider community, such as dances, concerts, and parades.
Roy Batt, a former member of the Ellesmere Lodge, noted that “[T]he Druids made a lot of the social life of Doyleston. They used to organise all the dances, socials and other entertainment.” In Southbridge dances were particularly popular, noted as bringing a ‘fine social spirit’. The UAOD also participated in events run by other local organisations, commonly churches. Aligning with their larger humanitarian nature, events often had charitable goals, for example the Ellesmere Lodge running a ‘back-to-childhood dance’ to help the Red Cross fund.
DateAugust 2026
DescriptionLike in England and Australia, the UAOD in Aotearoa New Zealand was a friendly society, officially registered under the Friendly Society Act of 1877 (which developed from earlier acts in 1854 and 1856). The UAOD was created at a time when there was no state-funded social welfare. Aotearoa New Zealand did not begin institutionalising social welfare systems until the 1930s under the first Labour Government, with England only having done so in the 1910s. The central purpose of friendly societies, therefore, was to fill this gap. The UAOD pooled money from membership fees, which helped cover both general and membership benefits such as sick pay, parental pay, doctors’ visits and medical prescriptions, and funeral cover. This was the main appeal of the UAOD, and friendly societies more generally. As Ivan Norton, a former member of Ethelbert Lodge stated, “It was a Benefit Lodge… It was mainly to help members before social security came in.” Aotearoa New Zealand’s welfare reforms may have even been based on the UAOD’s own benefits, although there is not enough evidence to back this up.
Alongside welfare benefits, UAOD lodges became important sources of connection, integral to the social activity of their communities. This was especially the case in smaller, more rural locations. Druids’ lodges ran members only events, such as meetings, galas, and inter-lodge/society sports events. However, they also organised other events that were open to the wider community, such as dances, concerts, and parades.
Roy Batt, a former member of the Ellesmere Lodge, noted that “[T]he Druids made a lot of the social life of Doyleston. They used to organise all the dances, socials and other entertainment.” In Southbridge dances were particularly popular, noted as bringing a ‘fine social spirit’. The UAOD also participated in events run by other local organisations, commonly churches. Aligning with their larger humanitarian nature, events often had charitable goals, for example the Ellesmere Lodge running a ‘back-to-childhood dance’ to help the Red Cross fund.
DateAugust 2026Connections
Collection‘United to Assist’: the Druids of Selwyn OrganisationLincoln and Districts Historical Society
OrganisationLincoln and Districts Historical SocietyAttribution
Researched ByNoah RobertsonWritten ByNoah RobertsonDate WrittenBetween 1st January 2026 and 1st August 2026
Written ByNoah RobertsonDate WrittenBetween 1st January 2026 and 1st August 2026Click on the image to add
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A Friendly Society with a Community Focus (August 2026). Selwyn Stories, accessed 01/09/2026, https://selwynstories.selwynlibraries.co.nz/nodes/view/7156