Clan Crawford Association
The style of Highland Games in New Zealand varies from venue to venue, always with the assistance of the local communities, attracting spectators and competitors nationally and even internationally as far away as Canada and Scotland. Following are the Scottish events in New Zealand for the summer of 2025-26. If you are traveling to New Zealand plan on attending one of their events. This information was provided by Peter Crawford.
Each event has it’s own unique flavor which in some cases has been developed over 150 year.
| St Andrews 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 Competitions for Pipe Bands, solo piping & drumming, Highland Dance, Scottish vendor stalls too! | 12/13/2025 | The Square, Palmerston North | Brief details here |
| Helen McGregor Memorial Medley Trophy (solo piping) 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. | 12/30/2025 5:30pm start, tickets at the door, supper is served, bar sales available. | S Foyer of the Celtic Barn – Caledonian Park, Waipu | Details here |
| Waipu Highland Games | 31 December 2025- Scottish Hogmanay! | Street March, Set and Medley in the Octagon, Dunedin. | Contact: Maureen Hurrell hurrellm@xtra.co.nz |
| 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! | Caledonian Park,, Waipu. | Details here |
| Waipu New Year’s Eve Ceilidh 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. | 31 December through to 1am on 1 January. | Celtic Barn, Caledonian Park,, Waipu. | Details here |
| NZ Gàidhealtachd 2026 Theme: The Sea Kingdoms – Travel and Trade | 1 – 7 January 2026 | Waitangi Park, Wellington Camp onsite for all (or part) of the week | Maungaturoto Country Club 84 Bickerstaffe Road, Maungaturoto |
| RNZPBA Summer School 2026 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. | 7-11 January 2026 Registrations open now | St Andrews College, Christchurch | More details and link for registration here |
| 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! |
| Turakina Highland Games 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 | 1/31/2026 | Turakina Domain, Cameron Road, Turakina | Details to come |
| Paeroa Highland Games& Tattoo Piping & drumming, Highland dance, Clans, heavyweight Scottish field events, Scottish vendors, Steam Punk, variety acts, and an evening tattoo. | 2/14/2026 9am-9pm | Paeroa Domain, Paeroa | Details to come |
| Auckland Centre Band Contest Pipe Bands from Northland, all parts of Auckland, and as far south as Franklin | 2/22/2026 | Waikaraka Park 175-243 Neilson St, Onehunga, Auckland | Brief details here |
| Wellington-Hawkes Bay Centre Pipe Band Contest Hear some great piping and drumming as bands from this region practice for the Nationals in March | 2/28/2026 | Marist Sports Grounds, 19 Pascal Street, Palmerston North | Contact: nancymartin49@gmail.com |
| Pipes in the Park Highland Gathering 10am-5pm with food, fun for the children, Clan and Craft markets contests and performances – piping, drumming and dance! | 3/7/2026 | Avalon Park, Taita Drive, Avalon, Lower Hutt (Wellington region) | |
| New Zealand Pipe Band Championships (“The Nationals” 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? | 20-21 March 2026 9am-5pm each day | TET Stadium & Events Centre, 1 Elliot St. Inglewood, Taranaki (16 km southeast of New Plymouth on State Highway 3). | Website |
| Easter Hawkes Bay Highland Gathering Contests for solo Piping & Highland dancing. | 4-5 April 2026 | Lindisfarne College, Pakowhai Rd, Hastings | Details to come |
| Tartan Day This celebration started in the USA & Canada and has now spread to Scotland! (NZ & Oz celebrate International Tartan Day on Jul 1) | 6 April every year | Anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320) | Wear a touch of tartan today to celebrate your Scottish heritage |
| Unicorn Day Fun fact: The Unicorn is Scotland’s national animal & even appears on their Royal Coat of Arms. | 9 April every year | Your place? the local park? |