About

The Otahuhu & District Highland Pipe Band is based in the beautiful city of Auckland, New Zealand. More locally, the band has a very long history in the suburb of Otahuhu. On the 21st of September 1949 the band became a registered society under the name of The Western Districts Highland Pipe Band. Then in 1959 became known as the Auckland Watersiders Highland Pipe Band. Later, the band merged with the Mount Wellington Pipe Band and became known as the Otahuhu and District Highland Pipe Band.

In the late 1960’s the band suffered a great loss due to a fire in the band hall. Fortunately the members were able to obtain the current hall for a ‘reasonable sum’ from a neighbouring pipe band. This same hall that is enjoyed by today’s band at Sturges Park.

Over the years the band has seen many fine pipers and drummers pass through its ranks. Some of the judges and top class players today were first taught in the Otahuhu band.

From 2001 many of the older core members began to retire from the band. In mid-2000, with extremely low numbers & no new members coming through the band almost sunk into liquidation.

In 2008, under the new leadership of Pipe Major Michel Tent, the few remaining members formed a band in Otahuhu once more.

In 2009 Otahuhu managed to muster a competition band and compete at the National Championship’s. Although they did not achieve a placing, the band surprised many by being placed in the middle of grade 4 (unusual for a basically new band).

Recently the Otahuhu band competed in all the local provincial competitions leading up to the 2012 National Championships. The band competed with bands from all over New Zealand in Grade 4B. The pipers performed so well that they were placed 1st by each judge in every event (a perfect run). The drummers also achieved consistently high placings which meant that the band was placed 1st in Grade 4B.

The Royal New Zealand Pipe Band Association,  has regraded to the band to Grade 4A.