The event is held annually in different parts of the country and this weekend 850 marchers from all over New Zealand, almost all women aged 50 and older, have come to Dunedin to have a good time.
"It's brilliant - a lot of fun," Pat Pennell, of the Central Pioneers team, from Alexandra said before yesterday's opening march past.
But she was not giving away any secrets when asked if "the girls" got up to mischief while away from home.
"Not that we can talk about," she replied.
"We're models of propriety," team leader and co-instructor Kerry Bullamore said, to the laughter of her team-mates.
The national event did not involve competitions or prizes but emphasised participation, convener Jan Hoad said yesterday.
That began with the colourful march past involving everyone, where teams with inventive names such as the Senior Moments, Simply Reds, and Fancy Footsteps showed off their marching skills and smart costumes.
In the stands were a smattering of men, among them Blue Caldwell and Graham Lawton, whose wives march in the Waikanae Joysteppers.
"We're the groupies," Mr Caldwell said.
Both were brass bandsmen whose wives had spent years accompanying them to brass band competitions.
Now the men were returning the favour.
Asked what their duties were, Mr Caldwell said they were to "hang around and drive when required".
"Because we're long-married, generally we just do as we're told," he said.
