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New Zealand Pipe Band Championships
March 11, 2027
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Mar 12
The pipes are calling! Around 60 national and international pipe bands will converge on Tauranga in March 2027 to compete for national titles.
A splendid street parade through the CBD on Saturday morning will be a showy tartan display with maces tossed in the air to the sound of the pipes and drums. At Tauranga Domain, the bands will enter the competition circle playing the more formal marches-strathspeys-reels (MSR), and later, more innovative medleys. Around 12 juvenile bands will also be competing - all players aged under 18.
Rounding out the competitions will be a mace flourishing event with Drum Majors leading their band, giving instructions with the mace while twirling and tossing the staff high in the air - a thrilling spectacle. Finally all 60 or so bands will perform in the massed bands finale where all the bands play together as one!
The band contest runs over 2 days - Friday March 12 and Saturday March 13.
On the grounds you can enter Clan Avenue to find out more about the Scottish heritage of the clans and their activities in New Zealand up to today. Various vendors will also be on site for you to browse their Scottish wares.
There may even be the opportunity to have a go at the pipes or drums!
Event Dates
March 13, 2027
at
9:00 am
March 12, 2027
at
9:00 am
Show
Salon Risqué: ReVulva A Burlesque cabaret where glamour meets espionage and the fate of the world rests in the hands of the fabulously fierce Curves O Plenty. With funds running dry and stakes running high, the Curves must go undercover—serving secrets, seduction, and swagger—to save the day. Featuring sensational guest stars from across Aotearoa, this is a high-camp, high-heat adventure is packed with cheeky comedy, sultry tease, and outrageous twists. Funny. Sexy. Slightly unhinged.
8 Aug
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8 Aug
Activity
E tū Ururangi – behold the winds of life, carrying the promise and vitality of Tāwhiri-rangi. Celebrate the rising of Matariki with a vibrant day of connection, creativity, and remembrance at Te Ao Mārama - Tauranga Library. Bring your whānau along for a day filled with hands-on activities and rich cultural experiences. Try your hand at raranga (weaving), create your own contemporary mini tukutuku panel, shape a clay taonga, join our history hunt, and learn the basics of poi. Enjoy the beautiful sounds of taonga pūoro and uplifting waiata shared throughout the day.
3 Jul
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3 Jul
Talk / lecture, Expo
Attending the Tauranga campus Open Day is the best way to see what the University of Waikato - Tauranga has to offer and to start planning your next steps. Visit our beautiful Tauranga campus to learn about study pathways, subjects, degrees and the exciting careers they lead to. We've got information sessions, campus and accommodation tours, interactive activities, food stalls, prizes and live entertainment. We can't wait to see you there!
30 Jun
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30 Jun
