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About us  

The Manawatū Scottish Pipe Band is one of New Zealand’s largest pipe band organisations, comprising three competing bands: a Grade 1 Band, a Grade 4A Band, a Youth Band and a development group, with an active supporters club and an administrative body.

‘Manawatu Scottish’ was established in 1925 and is based at the Manawatu Scottish Society hall, Palmerston North, New Zealand.

The Number One band has held the Grade One New Zealand Championship title eight times (2001-2008 & 2025). The band is led by Pipe Major Stewart McKenzie, who is currently based in Wellington, New Zealand. Stewart has a long family history with Manawatu Scottish. The Drum Corp is under the direction of Drum Sergeant Gary Potter.

In 2002 the band attended the Australian and South Pacific Championships in Brisbane, where they won both Grade One titles – the first band since 1974 to win both Australian and New Zealand Champion titles in one year.

In 2024 a focused teaching programme was put in place to provide structured learning for young pipers and drummers. This has proved extremely popular and successful. The Youth Band and the Grade 4B Band competed at their first NZ National Pipe Band Championship in Taranaki, in March 2026. They finished third in the Juvenile Grade and were winners in Grade 4B.

These bands are made up mainly of youngsters that have come up through this training program.  The band has been upgraded and will now compete in Grade 4A.

News & updates    

Highland Ball – Celebrating 100 Years

The announcement you have all been waiting for!
Dust off your dancing shoes and put on your best kilt.

Be sure to get your tickets early as seats are limited and it’s set to be a legendary night.
Follow the link to order your Ball tickets, 100th merchandise, Concert tickets and pre-order the centenary book “Tales and Tunes”.

 

The band has developed a highly distinguished international profile with encouraging results. Since 1997 the band has made a biennial trip to Scotland to compete in the World Championships, and peaked with a ranking of 9th in the world. In addition, the band was invited to perform at the renowned Internationale Celtique Festival, Lorient, France in 2003.

The Band enjoys a growing reputation as a concert band. The two key factors of innovation and musicality influence the bands concert format leading to a staunch local following and increasing interest in other centres and overseas.

In 2002 the band produced its debut studio album “The Calling”, showcasing homegrown talents reflective of the highest international standards. This was followed in 2009 by the second studio album “Twelve Thousand Miles” – the distance between New Zealand and Scotland, and also the distance many of our ancestors travelled over 150 years ago in search of a new life.

The Juvenile Youth Development Band is the training ground for Manawatu’s other two bands. The band is tutored by members of the higher graded bands.

Manawatu Scottish Pipe Band has a very successful teaching program that takes learners from around 8 years old and upwards. It offers tuition in both piping and drumming. For those that want to progress there is a pathway through to the top level of Grade 1.

Many of our younger players are selected to join the National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand.

Experienced pipers and drummers who are interested in joining one of the bands are also welcome to contact us.