A pipe band is a musical ensemble consisting of pipers and drummers. The term pipes and drums, used by military pipe bands is also common.
The National Provincial Championship, often simply called the NPC, is an annual round-robin rugby union competition in men's domestic New Zealand rugby. First played during the 2006 season, it is the second highest level of competition in New Zealand alongside the Ranfurly Shield. It is organised by New Zealand Rugby (NZR) and since 2021, it has been known as the Bunnings NPC after its headline sponsor. A concurrent women's tournament is also held, the Farah Palmer Cup.
Sport in New Zealand largely reflects the nation's colonial heritage, with some of the most popular sports being rugby union, rugby league, cricket, association football, basketball, horse racing and netball, which are primarily played in Commonwealth countries. New Zealand has enjoyed success in many sports, notably rugby union, rugby league, cricket, America's Cup sailing, world championship and Olympics events, and motorsport.
Saint Thomas' Episcopal School (STE) is a private, co-ed Episcopal institution serving Pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. It is located in the Meyerland area of Houston, Texas. The school has 553 students and 111 faculty members. It is accredited by the Southwestern Association of Episcopal Schools and is a member of the Houston Association of Independent Schools (HAIS) and the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools (TAPPS).
The Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association (RSPBA) is an association aiming to oversee pipe band competition, and to promote and encourage the development of pipe band culture worldwide. It was founded in 1930.
The City of Whitehorse (CoWPB) was a competition pipe band, based in Nunawading, Victoria, Australia. The band's previous incarnations had been successful on the Australian Pipe Band competition circuit for numerous years, and was placed 11th in the final tables of the World Pipe Band Championships in 2006. The band reformed in 2014 and was led by Pipe Major George Shepherd and Drum Sergeant Olav Goud. The band ceased operations in 2016 following the decision of Pipe Bands Australia to suspend five members and later, terminate the band's membership following a protracted period of behaviour deemed unacceptable by the association.
Indoor netball is a variation of netball, played exclusively indoors, in which the playing court is surrounded on each side and overhead by a net. The net prevents the ball from leaving the court, reducing the number of playing stoppages. This gives indoor netball a faster pace than netball.
Rugby union has been played in New Zealand since 1870 and is the most popular sport in the country as well as being its national sport.
The Wellington Rugby Football Union are a New Zealand governing body of rugby union in the New Zealand province of Wellington Region. The main stadium is Sky Stadium which is located in Wellington. The union also represents the Wellington Lions, which is professional rugby union team who compete in the Mitre 10 Cup competition and contest for the Ranfurly Shield. Before 2006 the Lions competed in the National Provincial Championship.
The Victoria Police Pipe Band is a former Grade One World Pipe Band Championship-winning pipe band based in Melbourne, Australia. The band still operates today, though with reduced numbers and not competitively, after a controversial decision in 2000 to reshape it.
The Windsor Police Pipe Band is a Canadian pipe band organization based in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. The organization currently has two competing bands; one in grade 3 and another in grade 5.
The Coastal Scottish Pipe Band, also known simply as 'Coastals', is a grade 3 pipe band based in Perth, Western Australia. The band was formed in 1898, and along with the City of Melbourne Highland Pipe Band is one of the oldest pipe bands in Australia. Their many recent successes include winning the 2007 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships, held in Dunedin.
The World Pipe Band Championships is a pipe band competition held in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Tasmanian Bands League (TBL) is the governing body of community banding in Tasmania. It is also an affiliated banding association of the National Band Council of Australia (NBCA). The Tasmanian Bands League's operations include the running of music camps and workshops within the state, as well as the organisation of local band-related competitions.
Netball New Zealand is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.
Netball is the most popular women's sport in New Zealand, in terms of player participation and public interest. With the national team, the Silver Ferns, currently ranked second in the world, netball maintains a high profile in New Zealand. As in other netball-playing countries, netball is considered primarily a women's sport; men's and mixed teams exist at different levels, but are ancillary to women's competition.
The City of Dunedin Pipe Band is a competitive pipe band, based in Dunedin, New Zealand. The band is led by Pipe Major Murray Tannock and Drum Sergeant Sam Coutts. The band wears the Gordon Tartan. The band regularly performs at all home games for the Otago Highlanders Super Rugby franchise at Forsyth Barr Stadium and graduation parades for the University of Otago and Otago Polytechnic.
Cricket is the most popular summer sport in New Zealand, second only in total sporting popularity to rugby. New Zealand is one of the twelve countries that take part in Test match cricket.
The Hamilton Caledonian Pipe Band otherwise known as The Callies is an organisation with two bands. One in grade "2" and one non-competing, with over 50 playing members based in Hamilton, New Zealand.
The Wellington Brass Band is a British-style brass band based in Wellington, New Zealand. The 28-piece ensemble performs extensively throughout New Zealand and Australia, and is the current champion band of New Zealand and Australia.
