The New Zealand Police Pipe Band
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New Zealand Police Pipe Band, 2008. |
New Zealand Police maintains an award-winning pipe band comprised of police and civilian members. The Band performs at formal police functions and civic events. It encourages goodwill between the public and police. The Band is based at the Royal New Zealand Police College twenty minutes drive north of Wellington.
Hear the band play a
traditional hornpipe tune or
a snippet from their CD
(in RealAudio format). Visit the
New Zealand Police Pipe Band web site for more
information on the CD.
Band History
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Pipe Band, 1938. |
The Band was formed in 1936 by Detective Sergeant Neil McPhee. From all accounts McPhee was a redoubtable character, who not only taught the pipers but also manufactured his own make of bagpipe for the police band. Initially the Band's practice room was located above the stables of the old Taranaki Street Police Station in central Wellington.
The Band is an integral part of the New Zealand Police and a source of pride among police members, most of whom have marched to its music at their graduation parades.
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Trentham Police College graduation, 1980. |
The Band has accompanied the Police through times of celebration and sadness and its pipers are frequently called on for police funerals and memorial services.
As the Band grew its player base around New Zealand, and to attain more accurate international acknowledgement, the name was changed from the Wellington Police Pipe Band to the New Zealand Police Pipe Band in 1994.
Competitions
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On parade in Masterton, 2000. |
From the beginning the Band recognised that playing standards would only be maintained through competition. It has an enviable record in national competition including the Australian and New Zealand Grade One Championships.
Internationally the Band competed in the North America, Ireland and Scotland where it has consistantly qualified for the World Championships.
The Entertainers
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Ready to entertain in Dunedin, 1990. |
The Band incorporates crowd pleasing displays to showcase some of the operational aspects of policing. Police dogs, mock offenders, smoke bombs and police horses are all used in various marching displays.
The Band has also performed on a contractual basis in a range of international settings. It was invited to perform at the prestigious Royal Tournament in Earl's Court, London. The Band has performed with the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in its first performance outside Scotland in Wellington during 2000.
Contact the Band
Contact the Band through Drum Major Hamish McCardle, phone +64 4 474-9499 at the Police National Headquarters, Wellington, New Zealand.
