Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands' Association

19/06/2026

Get your tickets secured! It’s going to be a great show

SAVE THE DATE! 🎵 Bound by Sound – Live in Concert! 🎵
The National Youth Pipe Band of New Zealand is thrilled to bring their music LIVE to the stage.
You’ve heard the album — now come and feel the energy in person and support New Zealand’s finest youth talent.

📍 Hamilton
🗓️ Saturday 10 October 2026 · 4 PM
🏫 Southwell School Performing Arts Centre
🎶 With special guests: Hamilton Caledonian Pipe Band

📍 Auckland
🗓️ Sunday 11 October 2026 · 1 PM
🏫 Raye Freedman Arts Centre, Epsom Girls Grammar School
🎶 With special guests

✨ Mark your calendars and get ready to be Bound by Sound — a celebration of youth, tradition, and the power of live music.
💙 Share this post to support young Kiwi performers!

16/06/2026

IT'S REMIT TIME

Each year, RNZPBA member bands have an opportunity to submit proposals to amend the National Contest Rules through remits.

Bands have until 31 July 2026 to submit proposals to the RNZPBA for voting by bands later this year. That process, including a link to submit your proposal, can be found here:https://rnzpba.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Remit-Round-2026-1.pdf

14/06/2026

Registrations for the 2027 RNZPBA Annual Summer School are now open!

The annual RNZPBA Summer School is back for 2027 and includes some of the piping and drumming world’s biggest names - including Stuart Liddell and Steven McWhirter. A full-on week of learning in small group and individual sessions, there is something for everyone at Summer School.

RNZPBA members can register and pay before 31 August 2026 to receive the Early Bird discount rate from as little as $499NZD. This increases by $50 on 1 September.

For more information, including registration form and full costs, please visit https://rnzpba.com/summer-school/

06/06/2026

Following successful completion of his RSPBA outdoor experience modules at Dollar Championships, Garioch Championships, and RSPBA British Championships, Ross Levy has been recommended for acceptance to the RSPBA Adjudicators Panel for Drumming.

Ross is the first New Zealander to be appointed to the RSPBA Drumming Panel, marking a significant milestone for Ross and for New Zealand.

A huge congratulations to Ross for his dedication to his adjudication work and making it onto the Panel!

10/05/2026

Stuart and Steven are back for 2027!

We are pleased to announce that Stuart Liddell and Steven McWhirter are returning to New Zealand for the 2027 RNZPBA Summer School, to be held at St Andrew's College in Christchurch from the 6th till the 10th of January 2027.

As well as Stuart and Steven, we are also investigating an option for a third international tutor for Bass and Tenor - but this will depend on the number of registrations we can get to support a third international tutor.

More details will be available from the start of June - including prices, accommodation options and the popular Early Bird option for people who are keen to register quickly.

09/05/2026

Did you catch the Youth Band's album 'Bound By Sound' on BBC Scotland tonight on Piping Sounds?

Check it out here - https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002w744

03/05/2026

Prize winners from the 2026 RSPBA Oceania Solo Drumming Championship, and the RNZPBA New Zealand Open Tenor Championship.

02/05/2026

Prize winners for the 2026 Oceania Solo Drumming Championships are now available. Full result sheets will be available tomorrow.

Steven Shedden (Hawthorn Pipe Band) was the overall winner of the RNZPBA New Zealand Solo Drumming Championships, and Hawthorn Pipe Band Leading-Drummer Steven Shedden won the RSPBA Oceania Adult MSR…

02/05/2026

A great day at St Andrew's College so far for the 2026 RSPBA Oceania Solo Drumming Championships. The Adult qualifier is less than an hour away.

30/04/2026

The 2026 RSPBA Oceania Solo Drumming Championships is being held at St Andrew’s College from midday tomorrow - entry to the event is free all day and we encourage you to come down and support all the competitors and performers.

For those who can’t make it, we are going to be live-streaming from 2:30pm - covering the Open Tenor, Juvenile 5 Snare and Adult Snare competitions.

You can watch the livestream here:

2026 RSPBA Oceania Solo Drumming Championships