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Kōrero: Brass and pipe bands

Armed constabulary fife-and-drum band

Armed constabulary fife-and-drum band

An armed constabulary band is shown at a defensive redoubt during the New Zealand wars in the late 1860s or early 1870s. Early military bands included brass, woodwind and percussion ensembles, as well as fife-and-drum bands such as the one in this photo. This band also includes a triangle and a bugle. The New Zealand wars brought British regimental bands to the colony, and local units were formed, which set up their own bands.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Alexander Turnbull Library

Reference: PAColl-9765-1

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Me pēnei te tohu i te whārang

Peter Clayworth, Brass and pipe bands – Early military and brass bands, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/mi/photograph/43232/armed-constabulary-fife-and-drum-band (accessed 4 June 2026).

He kōrero nā Peter Clayworth, i tāngia i te 4 November 2013.

Comments

Brent Lindsay
14 August 2017
As to the date and location of this image. I believe it is the Opepe Redoubt just out of Taupo. See the link I include to a photo known to be taken there and note the identical background to the point it is highly likely to be taken on the same day and time as this image but from slightly differing angels. Both images even have the same wooden framework leaning on the stockade and the same 'blankets' draped over the stockade. Compare to https://nzhistory.govt.nz/media/photo/new-zealand-armed-constabulary-garrison-opepe