Dunedin did its Scottish forefathers proud at the weekend as the city celebrated a link to its past in fitting style by downing whisky, porridge and haggis.
The three-day celebration of Sister Cities Tartan Ties began in the Octagon on Saturday with music, dancing, a porridge-eating ''world record'', Highland Games and a stirring haggis ceremony.
The celebration was aimed at strengthening ties between Dunedin and Edinburgh and was also part of the lead-up to St Andrew's Day today.
Iain Seatter, who emigrated to Dunedin from Edinburgh 22 years ago, led the haggis ceremony, saying poet Robert Burns would have been proud at the way the city was celebrating its Scottish heritage.
''We have it all here today. We have bagpipes, we have kilts, we have the haggis and we have the whisky,'' Mr Seatter said.
After leading the ceremony, he told the Otago Daily Times the three-day celebration helped keep Dunedin's heritage alive.
''It just brings the Scot back up in you. As soon as you hear the bagpipes, something rises in the back of your neck.''
After haggis, it was on to porridge, with Jacob Brazil (21) setting a porridge-eating ''world record'', only for it to be broken minutes later by Ganesh Rout (28).
Mr Rout finished 150g of porridge in 41.75sec, with his technique of bringing the bowl close to his mouth proving a winner.
Sister Cities artistic director Simon Vare, of Dunedin, was pleased with the way the event was going and hoped it could become an even bigger celebration in future.
Other performances on Saturday included those by Edinburgh artists Withered Hand (Dan Willson), Emelle (Craig Lithgow) and Kevin Williamson, and Dunedin's Robert Scott, Jay Clarkson and David Eggleton.
The New Zealand-based British Council and Creative Scotland provided $15,000 for the three Scottish musicians to join the celebration.
In Dunedin yesterday, the three Edinburgh artists performed at a free service at Knox Church and a workshop and concert at the New Edinburgh Folk Club in Dundas St.
The St Andrew's Day celebration in Dunedin today includes a translation of some of Robert Burns' poems into Maori for a free public lecture in the Dunningham Suite at the Dunedin City Library at 12.15pm.
The Taieri Scottish Society's St Andrew's Day luncheon at Robbies Bistro in South Dunedin begins at 12.30pm.
