The City of Tauranga Pipe Band is on top of the world arriving back in town after being crowned top Grade 3 band in New Zealand and the South Pacific at the weekend.

Those out around Tauranga City in recent weekends will have heard the skirl of the pipes and beat of the drums as the band put in final preparations before attending the 2023 NZ and South Pacific Pipe Band Championships at Hagley Park in Christchurch on March 10-11.

Forty-two bands across four grades gave it their all – for City of Tauranga Pipe Band this title is their second at the national contest. The band won Grade 2 in 1982. Last weekend they also won champion drum corps in Grade 3, and champion bass and tenor section over Grade 3-4.

The band is a tightknit group of 32 – comprising 16 pipers, eight snare drummers, six tenor drummers, and the bass drummer with Drum Major Doug Hendry out in front on parade.

Pipe Major Warren Aitken and drum corps leader Drum Sergeant Neil Mogey had a solid plan which they've executed in the past few years to get the band to the top of the grade, says band secretary Angela Kell. 'In the final mix, City of Tauranga won seven of the eight trophies possible last weekend.”

Pipe Major Warren Aitken is delighted.

'There's no better feeling than to have 18 months of hard work rewarded.”

Drum Sergeant Neil Mogey, who celebrated a birthday at the championships, says the result is 'the best gift” – and the whole band could share it.

Doug says the band worked hard on all components of its performance, including mental approach 'and it was gratifying to see it come together”.

But even best-laid plans and preparations can go awry. Doug was tasked with driving the band's trailer of drums to Christchurch, and Interislander ferry delays created plenty of anxiety until the band gear was finally on the water last week.

Angela says the band has a very strong family focus – more than half of members have a sibling, parent, child or partner playing alongside them.

'Many more family members are actively involved as supporters, especially on competition trips away.

'So the old adage rings true… ‘the family that plays together, stays together'.”