The New Zealand International Exhibition (the biggest in the country to that time) opened 1 November 1906 in Hagley Park, Christchurch, New Zealand. Nearly two million people visited the exhibition during the next few months. A branch railway line was built across North Hagley Park to service the exhibition. The attractions included New Zealand’s first professional symphony orchestra (conducted by Alfred Hill), and the first Dominion pipe band contest which was won by the Dunedin Highland Pipe Band.