Provided By Peter Crawford

There are Highland Games available in New Zealand. Please view the following for locations times and events.

St Andrew’s Day 30 November every year A celebration of Scotland’s patron saint. Traditionally celebrated in Scotland with a St Andrews Day dinner – a good opportunity for those with Scottish roots to do the same.

Jenny Mair Square Day 13-Dec-25 The Square, Palmerston North Brief details here  Competitions for Pipe Bands, solo piping & drumming, Highland Dance, Scottish vendor stalls too!

Helen McGregor Memorial Medley Trophy (solo piping) 30-Dec-25 Foyer of the Celtic Barn –  Caledonian Park, Waipu. Details here Helen’s dying wish was a piping competition where the best of NZ’s pipers can “flair their fingers” & play music of their own choice. 5:30pm start, tickets at the door, supper is served, bar sales available.

Waipu Highland Games 31 December 2025-  Scottish Hogmanay! Caledonian Park,, Waipu. Details here. The most entertaining way to END the year! All-day family fun 9am-5pm – piping, dancing, stalls, kids races, and traditional Highland sports from 9 to 5. Then take a short break and ring in the New Year with a Ceilidh starting at 8pm in the stunning Caledonian Barn (see next entry for details). (Note change of date- now New Year’s EVE  (NOT 1st January). This is the second year of this date change!

Waipu New Year’s Eve Ceilidh 31 December through to 1am on 1 January. Celtic Barn, Caledonian Park,, Waipu. Details here See in the New Year with a traditional Scottish Social Gathering – Gaelic folk music, song, dance and convivial company, held at the end of the Waipu Games Day  Enjoy the bagpipes and Celtic music from “Twisty Willow”, the fabulous folk music group. $25 a head, 8pm start, finish at 1 am on New Years Day.

NZ Gàidhealtachd 1 – 7 January 2026 Maungaturoto Country Club Details and registration here 2026 Theme: The Sea Kingdoms – Travel and Trade Camp onsite for all (or part) of the week 84 Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto NZ has a deep Celtic heritage; immerse yourself in Celtic knowledge & skills, arts, language, history, music, dance, values & traditions.

RNZPBA Summer School 2026 7-11 January 2026 St Andrews College, Christchurch More details and link for registration here The Royal NZ Pipe Band Association is again hosting this world-class piping and drumming school. Something for all levels, group lessons, masterclass workshops and more. Registrations open now Burns Night 25 January every year (but can be on any suitable date around this time) There may be a Burns night near you – check your local events news.

Burns Night is traditionally celebrated by a Burns Supper with haggis, neeps & tatties etc. But why not create your own with a BBQ or whatever! Anniversary of Robert Burns’ birth in 1759.

Turakina Highland Games 31-Jan-26 Turakina Domain, Cameron Road, Turakina Details to come New Zealand’s oldest Scottish Games first held in 1864. Sports, piping & drumming, Highland dance, Clan tents and Scottish vendors 9am-5pm. Followed by an evening BBQ and Ceilidh  (20 km south of Whanganui on SH3).

Paeroa Highland Games& Tattoo 14-Feb-26 Paeroa Domain, Paeroa Details to come Piping & drumming, Highland dance, Clans, heavyweight Scottish field events, Scottish vendors, Steam Punk, variety acts, and an evening tattoo. 9am-9pm.

Auckland Centre Band Contest 22-Feb-26 Waikaraka Park 175-243 Neilson St, Onehunga, Auckland Brief details here Pipe Bands from Northland, all parts of Auckland, and as far south as Franklin.

Wellington-Hawkes Bay Centre Pipe Band Contest 28-Feb-26 Marist Sports Grounds, 19 Pascal Street, Palmerston North Contact: nancymartin49@gmail.com Hear some great piping and drumming as bands from this region practice for the Nationals in March.

Pipes in the Park 7-Mar-26 Avalon Park, Taita Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt (Wellington region) Details here Highland Gathering 10am-5pm with food, fun for the children, Clan and Craft markets contests and performances – piping, drumming and dance!

New Zealand Pipe Band Championships (“The Nationals” 20-21 March 2026 TET Stadium & Events Centre, 1 Elliot St, Inglewood, Taranaki (16 km southeast of New Plymouth on State Highway 3). Details here and here Street parade and performances from NZ Bands & even some from Australia and Canada). Competing across grades 1-3 – who will be the best this year? 9am-5pm each day.

Easter Hawkes Bay Highland Gathering 4-5 April 2026 Lindisfarne College, Pakowhai Rd,  Hastings Details to come Contests for solo Piping & Highland dancing.

Tartan Day 6 April every year Anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320) Wear a touch of tartan today to celebrate your Scottish heritage This celebration started in the USA & Canada and has now spread to Scotland! (NZ & Oz celebrate International Tartan Day on Jul 1.)

Unicorn Day 9 April every year Your place? the local park? For more background and ideas, check here and here (In Scotland and elsewhere) Get creative and have some fun! Fun fact:The Unicorn is Scotland’s national animal & even appears on their Royal Coat of Arms.