Hororata Highland Games
Pipe Bands at the opening of the 2020 Hororata Highland Games
StatusActive
Location(s)Hororata, Canterbury
Coordinates43°32′1.88″S 171°57′14.92″E / 43.5338556°S 171.9541444°E / -43.5338556; 171.9541444
CountryNew Zealand
InauguratedNovember 5, 2011 (2011-11-05)
Most recentNovember 11, 2023 (2023-11-11)
Attendance10,000 (2022)
Websitehororatahighlandgames.org.nz
Competitors in the senior and junior competitions strive to win.
Pipe bands performing on the Hororata Domain during the Hororata Highland Games, (November 2020)

The Hororata Highland Games is an annual event held in Hororata, New Zealand. The Games began in 2011, following the 2010 Canterbury earthquake. The Hororata community had a desire to make a positive change following the damage of the Canterbury earthquakes. The annual event has increased in popularity with 10,000 people coming to the 2016 edition.[1] It has since become New Zealand's biggest Scottish festival.[2]

In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic closed New Zealand's borders. This left overseas tourists unable to attend the Games. Despite this, 8,500 people showed up to its tenth event.[3] However, the 2021 event was cancelled. In 2022, the event was held again, with 10,000 people attending the eleventh games and six hundred competitors taking part in traditional Scottish Sports.

Chieftain

There is a Chieftain for each games who presides over the opening ceremony. These have included:[4]

  • 2011: Simon Dallow
  • 2012: Gerry Brownlee (MP for Ilam, Minister for Christchurch)
  • 2013: Sir Jerry Mateparae (20th Governor-General of New Zealand)
  • 2014: Sir Bob Parker (Mayor of Christchurch)
  • 2015: Alex Bruce (Director of Adelphi Distillery, Scotland)
  • 2016: Kyle Warren (Bagpipe musician)
  • 2017: Amy Adams (MP for Selwyn)
  • 2018: Patrick Hellier (Highland Games Heavy athlete)
  • 2019: Peri Drysdale[5]
  • 2020: John de Vries[6]
  • 2022: Kate Foster (local historian)
  • 2023: Colin Forsyth (founding committee member)

Economy

A study conducted by the University of Canterbury looked at the economic benefits of the Hororata Highland Games. This found that they provided $370,000 to the Selwyn District economy in 2019.[7]

Events

The Games have over 300 competitors turn up each year, with about 570 competitors competing in 2020.[3] Competitions include Highland Dancing, Piping and Drumming, Tug O’ War and Scottish heavy athletics (men's and women's). The heavy athletics include the hammer throw, the sheaf toss, the Hororata stones and tossing the caber. The Kilted mile is a race over a mile which includes eating a Hororata Pie, Drinking a traditional Scottish drink and negotiating a series of obstacles.[8] There are also stalls, food vendors and a fairground each year.

Statistics

No. Year Attendees Competitors Ref
1 2011
2 2012
3 2013
4 2014 8,000 350 [9]
5 2015 9,000+ 300+ [10]
6 2016 10,000
7 2017 10,000+ [11]
8 2018 ~ 9,000 500+ [12]
9 2019
10 2020 8,500 ~570
11 2022 10,000 600 [13]
12 2023 ~1000 [14]

References

  1. ↑ "Hororata Highland Games". Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  2. ↑ "2019 Hororata Highland Games Chieftain Announced". Selwyn Connect. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Thursday 12th November 2020 | Malvern News". 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  4. ↑ "Hororata Highland Games Chieftain announced". www.scoop.co.nz. 10 October 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  5. ↑ "2019 Hororata Highland Games Chieftain Announced". Selwyn Connect. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  6. ↑ "Hororata Highland Games Official Programme 2020". November 2020.
  7. ↑ "Strong community spirit in Hororata helps quake recovery". Otago Daily Times Online News. 4 September 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  8. ↑ "Hororata Highland Games | The Kilted Mile". Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  9. ↑ "Hororata Highland Games" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  10. ↑ "Hororata Highland Games 2015" (PDF). Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  11. ↑ Ineson, Joel (12 November 2017). "Hororata Highland Games grow thanks to 'sheer determination' of local spirit". Stuff. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  12. ↑ "Thousands turn out for eighth annual Hororata Highland Games". Stuff. 11 November 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  13. ↑ Yumpu.com. "Selwyn_Times: November 09, 2022". yumpu.com. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  14. ↑ Driscoll, Cindy (12 November 2023). "Thousands gather for the Hororata Highland Games". Hororata Trust. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
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