The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Premium
Home / The Country

Turakina Highland Games back for 157th year

Mike Tweed
Mike Tweed
Multimedia Journalist·Whanganui Chronicle·
22 Jan, 2021 04:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

William Evans (left) and Fergus Dempsey compete at the Turakina Highland Games in 2020. Photo / Bevan Conley

William Evans (left) and Fergus Dempsey compete at the Turakina Highland Games in 2020. Photo / Bevan Conley

The Turakina Highland Games is all set to go next weekend, bringing music, sport, and dance to the area for the 157th time.

Turakina Caledonian Society chief Durry Benton said the Covid-19 pandemic hadn't affected the planning of the event and entries for piping and drumming had remained similar to previous years.

"We've actually had a group of 100 dancers enter, so that's an increase," Benton said.

"It's full steam ahead, and there'll be food stalls, clan tents with genealogical information, and the field events are all set."

There are two camping areas available for those who plan on staying for the weekend - a 'quiet one' on the grounds of Turakina School, with swimming pool by arrangement for a gold coin donation, and a 'lively one' on Turakina Domain itself.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Traditional Scottish field events on the Saturday include the sheaf toss, shot put, tug of war, farmer's walk, three-legged walk and needle-in-the-haystack.

The most famous field event is the caber toss, where throwers aim for a perfect '12 o'clock' score, meaning the caber has landed directly away from them.

"If two or more throwers get a 12, then we'd start looking at a bigger caber," Benton said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Other events on Saturday's schedule include piping, drumming, bands and a veteran's recital, as well as the presentation of the annual McLean Scholarship, which is awarded to the most promising Youth Pipe Band.

More than 800 people attended last year's Games, and Benton said he hoped for at least that amount this year.

"That's 800 people through the gate, but there are at least another 400-500 people competing as well."

A new tradition had started after the event's 150th anniversary, Benton said, and took place on the Friday night.

"Over the last seven years we've had a gathering at the cemetery, and a local piper plays a lament for those people that have lived in Turakina that have been involved in the Games, and for their friends and families.

"After that we go down to the local pub and officially open the Games."

Benton's message to those who hadn't attended before?

"Come out and give it a go.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Who knows, you might discover you actually like the bagpipes after all."

Save
    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from The Country

The Country

Bird deaths spread – avian botulism suspected at Whangārei water dam

22 Feb 12:00 AM
The Country

Kiwi adventurer takes on 'insane' 400km horse race in Patagonia

21 Feb 10:00 PM
The Country

From horror fall to horse haven: Couple build new Cambridge training base

21 Feb 04:00 PM

Sponsored

Cyber crime in 2025: Increased specialisation, increased collaboration, increased risk

09 Feb 09:12 PM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Bird deaths spread – avian botulism suspected at Whangārei water dam
The Country

Bird deaths spread – avian botulism suspected at Whangārei water dam

Tests are underway to rule out bird flu after 25 birds have died in a second outbreak.

22 Feb 12:00 AM
Kiwi adventurer takes on 'insane' 400km horse race in Patagonia
The Country

Kiwi adventurer takes on 'insane' 400km horse race in Patagonia

21 Feb 10:00 PM
From horror fall to horse haven: Couple build new Cambridge training base
The Country

From horror fall to horse haven: Couple build new Cambridge training base

21 Feb 04:00 PM


Cyber crime in 2025: Increased specialisation, increased collaboration, increased risk
Sponsored

Cyber crime in 2025: Increased specialisation, increased collaboration, increased risk

09 Feb 09:12 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • NZME Digital Performance Marketing
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2026 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP