← BACK
New Zealand Pipe Band Championships
Fri
12 Mar
-
Sat
13 Mar
2027
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!
Location
Tauranga Domain
Event Dates
March 12, 2027
at
9:00 am
March 13, 2027
at
9:00 am
Expo
HobbyCon comes to Tauranga! HobbyCon brings collectors, players, vendors, and hobby enthusiasts together for a huge day of buying, selling, trading, and connecting with the community. Explore a packed show floor featuring trading cards, sports cards, collectibles, and plenty of hidden finds.
28 Aug
Activity
BreastFriend, the Tauranga-founded brand behind The Breasties wearable breast pump, has partnered with The Lab — NZ's flagship hybrid training facility — to gift local new mums a free MUM CLUB session. The initiative is founder-led: BreastFriend's Marie-Claire Houtsmuller built the brand after struggling to find adequate pumps or support as a first-time, exclusively pumping mother. She was also in need of a village, and this is what this is. MUM CLUB is a baby-friendly training session designed to give new parents a rare hour to move, connect, and recharge — babies and prams welcome, no cost to attend. Quote from Marie-Claire Houtsmuller, Founder, BreastFriend NZ:
28 Jul
Activity
BayActive has plenty of fun lined up to keep your preschool children aged 0–5 years active and entertained with Tumble Time at The University of Waikato Haumaru Sport & Recreation Centre! Have fun with moon hoppers, scooters, trikes, bikes, balls, balancing and gymnastic equipment, mega blocks, Little Tikes cars and much more. Tumble Time is designed to develop children's physical skills of balance, co-ordination, climbing, agility and fine motor skills. As this is a group environment, children also have the chance to develop their social skills as well as being a fantastic opportunity for parents to meet new friends too! No booking is required. Lock in the date and come along with your little one to get socialising at this fun and stimulating preschool playgroup!
26 Jul
-
1 Sep
Exhibition
The 2026 New Zealand Mountain Film Festival was held in Wanaka and Queenstown from 18-23 June. A selection of top films will be selected to showcase the best of the best, featuring films from New Zealand and around the world. This September the festival will be screened at Tauranga Boys College. The night promises to have a mix of action-packed excitement, high drama, and inspiration for your own next great adventure.
5 Sep
