Tamaki Makaurau Auckland will host over fifty pipe bands at the 2024 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships, making it the largest pipe band competition event outside of Europe.
Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association President Iain Blakeley said: “Having so many bands attend the Nationals is a testament to the hard work of teaching organisations and bands throughout the southern hemisphere – something we are looking forward to celebrating during the championships in March.”
Bands from across Australia and New Zealand will compete over two days in Auckland on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 March 2024.
“With strong entries across all six grades, we are absolutely delighted to be putting on such a top-quality event. With top bands from Australia coming across, the quintessential trans-Tasman rivalry will be on full display.
“There can be no doubt that the pipe band community Down Under is continuing to go from strength to strength.”
Pipe Major Richard Parkes MBE and Gordon Parkes are heading a top-tier adjudication panel. Brian Switalla, Martin Frewen and Stuart Easton join Richard Parkes on the piping panel, Liam Kernaghan and Ross Levy complete the ensemble panel and Scott Mitchell joins Gordon Parkes in rounding off the drumming panel.
Eleven bands are entered in the Juvenile grade, making it the biggest juvenile contest in the world.
”We are particularly proud of the fact our youth scene is growing and diversifying right across the country. Having eleven juvenile bands compete at the Nationals is hugely encouraging for our movement here in New Zealand,” Mr Blakeley continued.
“For the first time in New Zealand, because of the value we place on the juvenile contest, both music panels will adjudicate the event. That means our up-and-coming players will get the benefit of feedback from four piping adjudicators, two ensemble adjudicators and two drumming adjudicators.
“While we haven’t committed to taking this trial further, it is an exciting opportunity to try something new and continue to innovate for the betterment of the pipe band community.”
The current New Zealand Pipe Band champions are:
- Grade 1 – Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band
- Grade 2 – Hawthorn Pipe Band (Melbourne)
- Grade 3 – City of Tauranga Pipe Band
- Grade 4A – Scotch College Pipes and Drums (Melbourne)
- Grade 4B – South Canterbury Highland Pipe Band
- Juvenile – St Andrew’s College Pipe Band
The list of 52 bands entered for the 2024 New Zealand Championships is below:
Grade 1:
- Auckland and District Pipe Band
- Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band
- Hawthorn Pipe Band (Melbourne)
- ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band
- Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band
Grade 2:
- Celtic Pipe Band (Nelson)
- City of Tauranga Pipe Band
- St Andrew’s Pipe Band (Brisbane)
- St Andrews College Pipe Band
- Wellington Red Hackle Pipe Band
Grade 3:
- Auckland and District Pipe Band
- Auckland Police Pipe Band
- Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band
- City of Melbourne Pipe Band No. 1
- City of Ipswich Pipe Band No. 1
- Hawkes Bay Caledonian Pipe Band
- ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band
- Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band
- Northland Caledonian Pipe Band
Grade 4A:
- Papakura Pipe Band
- Hamilton Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band
- Metro Scottish Pipe Band
- The City of Wellington Pipe Band
- Hokonui Celtic Pipe Band
- City of Rotorua Highland Pipe Band
- Celtic Pipe Band (Nelson)
- St Andrew’s College Pipe Band (B)
- Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Pipe Band
- Wellington Red Hackle Pipe Band
Grade 4B:
- ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band
- South Canterbury Highland Pipe Band
- City of Ipswich Pipe Band No 2
- Feilding and Districts Pipe Band
- Ashburton County Scottish Society Pipe Band
- RSA Franklin Pipe Band
- Wellington Red Hackle Pipe Band
- St Kentigern College Pipes and Drums
- City of Sails Pipe Band
- City of Dunedin Pipe Band
- City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band
- Hokonui Celtic Social Pipe Band
Juvenile
- Canterbury Caledonian Society’s Juvenile PB
- St Andrew’s College Pipe Band (B)
- Lewis Turrell Memorial Trust Juvenile Pipe Band
- ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band Juvie B
- City of Dunedin Pipe Band
- St Andrew’s College Pipe Band
- Auckland Grammar School Pipe Band
- ILT City of Invercargill Highland Pipe Band
- South Canterbury Highland PB & Celtic PB
- Wellington Red Hackle
- St Kentigern College Pipes and Drums
The final draw for the 2024 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships is available here.