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Wairarapa Fern & Thistle Pipe Band

Band profile, current ranking snapshot, and competition history.

Current Rank Points
Current Place
#481
Total Points
1446.79
Average Points
-6.65
Best Result
-4.10
Competitions Count
8
Rank points compare this band against each competition field. Higher points indicate stronger relative performance. This band's best ranked result came at Turakina Highland Games, with -4.10 rank points.
Movement Story
Overall Change Since Last Recalculation
11
Grade Rank
#81
Grade movement tracking coming soon.
Best Recent Recalculation Move
1
Latest Recalculation Impact
11
last competed Mar 21, 2026
Movement on this page means change since the last ranking recalculation, not necessarily since this band's last competition.
Rank Points Trend

Last 8 Ranked Results

Rank points by competition date

Profile Highlights
Wins
0
Top 3 Finishes
0
Best Place
#4
Results Logged
8
Grade
4B
Last Competed
Mar 21, 2026
Best Recent Result
#5 at Turakina Highland Games
Worst Recent Result
#10 at New Zealand Pipe Band Championships
2026 snapshot: 8 results logged, 0 top-three finishes, best placing 4.
Discipline Breakdown
Piping Avg
59.58
Drumming Avg
71.33
Ensemble Avg
70.91
Best Discipline
Drumming
Weakest Discipline
Piping
Consistency Score
82.5
Band Details
LocationWairarapa
Founded-
ActiveActive
AssociationRNZPBA
RegionOceania
CountryNew Zealand
WebsiteVisit
About the Band

The Wairarapa Fern & Thistle Pipe Band is based in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand and has been active since the 1960s. The Royal New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association notes that there has been a Highland pipe band in Wairarapa for more than 60 years, with the band focused on giving the local community access to the sound and tradition of Highland pipes and drums.

The band has long supported community events, including local Christmas parades, ANZAC commemorations, and other civic occasions. It has also benefited from generations of local families and players, with members coming from a range of backgrounds rather than only Scottish heritage.

Recent information lists the band as active, with Pipe Major Louisa Slack and Drum Sergeant Hunter Neilson leading the group. It also maintains links with nearby bands, including joint concert activity with Wellington City Pipe Band.

Today, Wairarapa Fern & Thistle remains a community-centred New Zealand pipe band, keeping Highland music alive in the region through teaching, performance, and local service. A fine bit of Wairarapa drone-work: community roots, local pride, and reeds behaving themselves only when they feel like it.

Leadership & History

No leadership history is available yet.

Grade History
No grade history is available for this band yet.
Competition Results
Date Competition Contest Grade / Section Place Set Rank Points
21 Mar 2026 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships 4B 9 Medley -6.61
21 Mar 2026 New Zealand Pipe Band Championships 4B 10 MSR -7.84
31 Jan 2026 Turakina Highland Games 4 5 MSR -4.10
31 Jan 2026 Turakina Highland Games 4 6 Medley -7.81
13 Dec 2025 Jenny Mair Highland Square Day 4 7 Medley -8.33
13 Dec 2025 Jenny Mair Highland Square Day 4 8 MSR -8.41
1 Mar 2025 Pipes in the Park 4 4 Medley -5.97
1 Mar 2025 Pipes in the Park 4 5 MSR -4.14