Champions! The New Zealand Police Pipe Band (NZPPB) are officially the country’s best after being crowned national champions.
The band broke Canterbury Caledonian’s six-year winning run at the weekend to take the national Grade 1 title. It was their first national championship since 2007 – and the first time since 1996 that the band received straight first placings from all eight judges.
Also competing in the championships in Rotorua was the Auckland Police Pipe Band, which came third in the Grade 3 competition.
NZPPB Pipe Major Emmett Conway says it was a great honour to wear the Police crest and lead the Band to victory.
“To get consistent and conclusive first places from all the judges really was the icing on the cake,” says Emmett.
“We have worked hard to put the New Zealand Police Pipe Band back on the map nationally and globally. With all the publicity we are getting on social media, I hope we have done Police proud.”
The band’s performances in Rotorua received more than 30,000 views in the five days after the competition.
“I’d like to thank all our supporters and, most importantly, New Zealand Police for supporting us and allowing us to develop and grow, especially over the last three years,” says Emmett. “We will continue to develop and sustain a robust band moving forward.”
The NZPPB has won all its competitions so far this season and is heading to the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow in August. In 2016 in Glasgow it finished 12th in the world in Grade 1.
Inspector Scott Webb, President of the Auckland Police Pipe Band, says the Aucklanders were rapt with to achieve their highest-ever placing in the national championships.
“Police had a significant impact on the championships,” he says. “We had two big bands marching with police out at the front. It was a really good day for the Police brand.”
The bands were led in their street marches by Rotorua Area Commander Inspector Anaru Pewhairangi, with local dog handler Constable Luke Layland and police dog Cato, and flag bearers Constable Jen Burgess (Waitakere) and Sergeant Neil Pennington (Whangarei-Kaipara).