Southlander Neryda Duncan has been crowned New Zealand's top highland dancer, wining the overall title at the 2025 NZ Highland & National Dancing championships held on 5-6 July in Christchurch.

Thirty-year-old Duncan competed against 23 of the country's top senior dancers, all of whom were between five and twelve years younger than her.

New Zealand champion Neryda Duncan. Photo: Bret Watkins/Supplied

Duncan said her win had been a pretty overwhelming and humbling experience, but to be recognised had also been very cool.

She admitted she had been dancing for quite a long time and estimated there had probably only been one or two others who had ever competed to the same level at her age.

Duncan, who now lives in Christchurch, said she had had a good build-up to the championship.

"I went to quite a few competitions throughout the year with my dancing teacher Mrs Jacqueline Jones."

"It's definitely been a huge help."

"I got Most Points at most of the competitions," she said.

Neryda Duncan at age 5, following her first competition in 2000 in Invercargill. Photo: Supplied

With her mother a highland dancer and father a bagpiper - Duncan was always destined to follow in the family tradition, so at age 4 she began highland dancing lessons at Pukerau with Susan Harris.

Following the family's move to Invercargill, 7-year-old Duncan continued her dancing under the tutorship of Dorothy Thomson, before eventually gaining her dancing diploma.

When Duncan moved to Christchurch for university she also enrolled with JJs School of Dance - a studio she continues to attend to this day.

Duncan credits her continued involvement in dance to her passion - which is still there - the enjoyment of still wanting to do it, and her involvement with the Highland Dance Company of New Zealand (HDCNZ).

"We (HDCNZ) do a lot of performances overseas and within New Zealand"

"There's a really awesome group of dancers we get to travel with."

Neryda Duncan, aged 12, winning her first Under 16 South Island Under Championship event at the 2007 Nelson NZ Championships. Photo: Supplied

"I'm a mother-hen - which I really enjoy."

"We have a [HDCNZ) Heart of the Highlands tour of the North Island in August and then we go to the Belgium Tattoo in October," she said.

Duncan said taking on highland dancing's pinnacle award, the Solo Seal examination, was not on the radar for this year because of the HDCNZ overseas tour, but she didn't rule out looking at it for next year.

When not dancing, Duncan works for a Christchurch medical device company. She also holds the rank of Captain in the New Zealand Army reserves.

Other Southland highland dancers to be nationally ranked following the national competition last week were Invercargill's Rachel Checketts who placed 9th equal in the 18 years and over competition, and Alex Glover of Garston who got 7th in the under 18 competition. Arrowtown's Isla Couldstone placed fourth equal in the Under 16 championship.