Christchurch pipe band defy the odds to get to Scotland

Photo / Michael Cunningham

However they perform in the Olympics of the pipe band world this weekend, just getting there has been a triumph for one Christchurch band.

The Canterbury Caledonian Society Pipe Band has made it to Scotland for the World Pipe Band Championships after losing their central Christchurch hall and many of their valuable instruments and uniforms in the February earthquake.

About $100,000 of equipment was lost - as well as a century of history. What equipment they could salvage was "basically buried in silt", said Barry Rendell, of the Caledonian Society.

Many of those in the band were also personally affected by the quake through damage to homes and businesses. After the February quake struck "everyone really initially thought that was that", Mr Rendell said.

"[Getting to the world championships] wasn't going to happen. People were in that situation where they didn't really have any money to spare."

But Mr Rendell said the band decided "they just had to do it".

Finding somewhere to practice had been a struggle. And without insurance payouts, the members had to replace instruments as best they could, and also had to raise enough money to get them to Scotland.

The team has reportedly been welcomed with open arms in Scotland, and their struggles have created plenty of media interest there.