The national championships, touted this year as the Dunedin Festival of Brass, brought hundreds of musicians from 29 bands from across the country to the city from July 5 to July 8.
Hosting committee chairman Ben Rickerby said the final competition, the A Grade own choice selection, in the Dunedin Town Hall on Saturday, had been tight and little separated the best brass bands.
"It was a bit of a tight race at the end at the top of the A Grades," Mr Rickerby said.
"Wellington took it out ... for their fifth win in a row.
"North Shore gave them a good run for their money."
Photos of people out and about flooded social media.
Friendships within the brass band community stretched back years and the championships truly had a festival atmosphere.
"Oh, it always does.
"The bands get together, you see mates you haven’t seen maybe since last time ... lots of people running into everyone."
The hosting committee, which had been planning the festival for several years, assisted with the atmosphere by using venues that were all centrally located.
In past championships, events had been spread out across the host cities.
"It was kind of nice having that wee village, shall we say, over the four days," Mr Rickerby said.
The festival wrapped up yesterday with a composers’ workshop, which was hosted by the chief adjudicator, Tom Davoren.
Dunedin previously hosted the championships in 2006 and 2011.
Next year’s national championships were scheduled for Auckland, Mr Rickerby said.
