The award was presented to her at the North Otago PDANZ June competition held at the Scottish Hall.
Mrs Hayes said she was "absolutely speechless".
"I couldn’t believe that it was me. I was looking around the hall because I was on the stage, to see somebody’s face that they were going to call the name of.
"It was a massive surprise."
It has been 53 years since Mrs Hayes first started playing for Highland Dancing Oamaru after learning how to pipe with the late Jock McVean.
"I get a lot of pleasure in the children coming up and showing me the prize they’ve won or just walking by and saying ‘hi Janice’.
"I suppose that’s what’s kept me going for so many years and now I’m playing for the second generation of children."
Branch president Kimberley Mavor said it was a privilege to present the award to the "loyal dancing piper".
"Janice has been playing at competitions throughout the wider Otago region for literally decades.
"She has helped dancers put their best foot forward not only at competitions but at countless Ingleside concerts and many other local community events."
It was very rare for the stalwart to have missed a local competition or A&P show, Mrs Mavor said.
Branch competition secretary Alicia Jones said "it was lovely to be able to acknowledge Janice" for all her years of service.
The June championship featured 60 participants from Geraldine to Dunedin, ranging from under-7 to 18-plus age groups.
Mrs Jones said the event, which also included the South Island championship, ran very well.
Most points of the day went to Olivia Mavor and Harper McKenzie was runner-up.
The U18 winner was Macy Oliver, U14 and U16 was Harper McKenzie, U12 Milla McKenzie, U11 Andie Perniskie, U9 and U10 Isla McGregor, U8 Florence Poshyvay, and U7 Sadie Hansen.
