View source for New Zealand Football Championship

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2024}}
{{infobox football league
| name                 = New Zealand Football Championship (NZFC)
| logo                 = ISPS Handa Premiership logo.png
| pixels               = 300px
| country              = New Zealand
| confed               = [[Oceania Football Confederation|OFC]]
| founded              = {{start date and age|2004}}
| first                = [[2004–05 New Zealand Football Championship|2004–05]]
| folded               = {{start date and age|2021}}
| divisions            = 
| teams                = [[#Current clubs|8]]
| feeds                = 
| promotion            = 
| relegation           = 
| levels               = 1
| domest_cup           = [[White Ribbon Cup]]
| confed_cup           = [[OFC Champions League]]
| champions            = [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]] (3rd title)
| premiers             = [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] (12th title)
| season               = [[2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship|2020–21]]
| cups                 = 
| most_champs          = [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] (8 titles)
| most_prems           = [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] (12 titles)
| most_cups            = 
| most_appearances     = [[Jake Butler]] (257 appearances)
| top_goalscorer       = [[Emiliano Tade]] (80 goals)
| tv                   = [[SKY Network Television|Sky Sports]]
| website              = {{official URL}}
| current              = 
}}

The '''New Zealand Football Championship''' ({{langx|mi|Te Whakataetae Whutupaoro a Aotearoa}}) was a men's [[association football]] league at the top of the New Zealand league system. Founded in 2004, the New Zealand Football Championship was the successor to a myriad of short-lived football leagues in the country, including the [[New Zealand National Soccer League|National Soccer League]], the [[National Summer Soccer League]] and the [[New Zealand Superclub League]]. The league was contested by ten teams in a [[Professional sports league organization#Structure of North American leagues (Franchise and minor league system)|franchise]] system. For sponsorship reasons, the competition was known as the '''ISPS Handa Men's Premiership'''. From the 2021 season, it was replaced by the [[New Zealand National League]].<ref name="NLChampionship">{{cite web |title=New National League competition details confirmed |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/100552 |website=[[New Zealand Football]] |access-date=17 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210317013353/https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/100552 |archive-date=17 March 2021 |date=26 February 2021}}</ref>

The seasons used to run from October through to April, and consist of an eighteen-round regular season followed by a playoff series involving the four highest-placed teams, culminating in a Grand Final. Each season, two clubs would gain qualification to the [[OFC Champions League]], the continental competition for the [[Oceania]] region. The league does not use a system of [[promotion and relegation]].

Auckland City were the most successful side since the competition's inception, with twelve premierships and seven championship titles. A youth competition, called the [[National Youth League (New Zealand)|National Youth League]], ran parallel to the regular season from October to December – the final champions were also Auckland City, winning the final season of the competition in 2019.

== Competition format ==
There were two stages to the competition: the regular season, in which each team played each other twice for a total of 18 games; and the playoffs, in which the top four teams in the league play knockout matches in order to determine the champion.<ref>{{cite web|title=REGULATION 10: NATIONAL LEAGUE|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/National-League-2014-15.pdf|publisher=NZFootball.co.nz|access-date=31 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150117164559/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/National-League-2014-15.pdf|archive-date=17 January 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Regular season ===
Each team played each other team twice: once at home, and once away. Teams score three points for a win, one for a draw, and no points for a loss. At the end of the regular season, the top four teams progress to the playoffs.

For the first four seasons, the regular season had the teams play each other three times. This was changed to a home-and-away system in 2008, due to financial difficulties affecting some clubs.

=== Playoffs ===
The playoffs consist of three matches; there were two semi-final matches, and the winners of each progress to a one-match Grand Final.

In the inaugural season, three teams took part in the playoffs. The Minor Premier (the winner of the regular season) received automatic entry to the grand final as well as hosting rights, while the second and third placed teams played a one-game preliminary final to determine entry to the grand final. The NZFC also experimented with a five team playoff in the [[2005–06 New Zealand Football Championship|2005–06 season]], however, this was discontinued and the league reverted to the three-team playoff system for the [[2006–07 New Zealand Football Championship|2006–07]] and [[2007–08 New Zealand Football Championship|2007–08]] seasons. The league changed to the four-team playoff system in the [[2009–10 New Zealand Football Championship|2009–10 season]].

=== Qualification to OFC Champions League ===
Two teams from the NZFC qualified for the [[OFC Champions League]] each season: the team that won the regular season (the "Minor Premier") and the team that won the Grand Final (the "Champion"). If the same team wins both the Minor Premiership and the Championship, the second Champions League spot is granted to the regular season runner-up. This occurred on numerous occasions; the first instance being in 2006 when [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] (premiers and champions) and [[Manawatu United|YoungHeart Manawatu]] qualified, YoungHeart Manawatu not making it to the Grand Final.

No [[promotion and relegation]] existed, making it a closed league similar to the [[A-League]] in [[Australia]] and [[Major League Soccer]] in the [[United States]].

==History==

===Establishment in 2004 to present===
The New Zealand Football Championship was created as a replacement to the former [[New Zealand National Soccer League]], a tournament involving clubs from the regional governing bodies of [[New Zealand Football]]. The NZFC was to be run as a summer league involving new clubs created solely for the new competition, with these new clubs being run jointly by existing winter clubs. The only exception to this was [[Napier City Rovers]], whose summer club would be rebranded [[Hawke's Bay United]] during the second season, to be operated jointly by other clubs in the [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay region]].

Eleven groups bid for franchises, with the successful bids being announced on 7 April 2004 as [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]], [[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]], [[Hawke's Bay United|Napier City Rovers]], [[Otago United]], [[Team Wellington]], [[WaiBOP United|Waikato FC]], [[Waitakere United]], and [[YoungHeart Manawatu]], with Olé Madrids, East Auckland and Team Bay of Plenty being excluded. Unhappy at their exclusion, the Olé Madrids bid team took New Zealand Soccer to court, suing for damages and demanding inclusion in the competition, claiming that, whilst they met NZ Soccer's criteria for inclusion, other successful bids did not. The case was dropped by the Madrids team eight days before the commencement of the first NZFC season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18341745_ITM |title=Black year for New Zealand after All Whites loss|website=Access My Library|date=29 December 2004 |access-date=15 June 2010}}</ref> The Olé Academy, previously having had a relationship with Team Wellington, currently holds an exclusive partnership with current league side [[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]].<ref name="Ole">{{cite web|last=Brown|first=Michael|date=14 February 2005|url=http://www.tw.org.nz/index.php?page=home&item=123|title=National service|website=Official Team Wellington Website|publisher=Herald on Sunday|access-date=15 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022013234/http://www.tw.org.nz/index.php?page=home&item=123|archive-date=22 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://olefootballacademy.co.nz/ole-football-academy-partners-with-eastern-suburbs-afc/ |title=OlĂŠ Football Academy OlĂŠ Football Academy Partners with Eastern Suburbs AFCÂ |work=Olefootballacademy.co.nz |date=2019-11-25}}</ref> East Auckland also considered legal action, however this was not pursued.<ref name="Franchises">{{cite web|date=6 April 2004|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/454218/420535|title=New soccer franchises revealed|website=TVNZ|access-date=15 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110516173348/http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/454218/420535|archive-date=16 May 2011}}</ref>

The first match of the competition was on 15 October 2004, with [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] defeating [[Hawke's Bay United|Napier City Rovers]] 3–1 at [[Bluewater Stadium|Park Island]], [[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]]. Auckland City were also crowned the inaugural NZFC champions after defeating [[Waitakere United]] 3–2 in the final.

The second season saw Napier City Rovers rebrand and reorganize their NZFC team as Hawke's Bay United, forming an amalgamated franchise with other local clubs. It also saw the first instance of a NZFC team winning the [[OFC Champions League|O-League]], with Auckland City FC defeating [[Tahiti]]an team [[AS Pirae]] 3–1.

At the conclusion of the 2006–07 season, New Zealand Football granted three-season licence extensions to seven of the eight franchises – all but [[YoungHeart Manawatu]], who had to reapply due to concerns over the club's financial and organisational situation. However, YoungHeart eventually earned reinstatement after beating out four rival bids – one based in [[Gisborne, New Zealand|Gisborne]], one from [[North Shore City]], and two from [[Manukau City|Manukau]]. Olé Madrids also applied for the licence; however they withdrew early.<ref name="Licence">{{cite web|url=http://www.sportsweb.co.nz/cgi-bin/control.pl?Function=News&Item=soccer_nzfc_20061017.txt&pageid=1161025585|title=Five chase NZFC licence vacancy|website=Sports Web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724194353/http://www.sportsweb.co.nz/cgi-bin/control.pl?Function=News&Item=soccer_nzfc_20061017.txt&pageid=1161025585|archive-date=24 July 2011 }}</ref>

On 2 September 2010, [[New Zealand Football]] announced a five-year sponsorship agreement with [[ASB Bank]] resulting in the rebranding of the New Zealand Football Championship to the ASB Premiership.<ref name="ASB">{{cite web |date=2 September 2010|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/4088869/NZF-signs-its-biggest-sponsorship-deal|title=NZF signs its biggest sponsorship deal|website=Stuff.co.nz|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref>

In 2013, after a review of the competition by the ASB Premiership review committee, [[YoungHeart Manawatu]] was dropped from the competition after finishing last in the previous three seasons. New Zealand Football also confirmed that a team composed of New Zealand players born on or after 1 January 1995 would take Manawatu's place in the Premiership for at least two seasons. The addition of the team – to be known as Wanderers SC – was to provide adequate preparation for New Zealand's U-20 players for the upcoming [[2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup]] which will be hosted by New Zealand.<ref name="Wanderers">{{cite web|date=10 May 2013|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/football-news/manawatu-dumped-asb-premiership-5433921|title=Manawatu dumped from ASB Premiership|website=TVNZ|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref> Much confusion surrounded the initials "SC" in the Wanderers' name, as no official explanation was given as to what they stood for. It wasn't until after their first match that coach [[Darren Bazeley]] finally revealed that "SC" stood for "Special Club", saying "it acknowledges this team has arisen out of a special situation and was specially formed for the purpose."<ref>{{cite web|last=Holloway|first=Bruce|date=18 November 2013|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11158965|title=Making sense of the Wanderers SC name|website=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=12 November 2014}}</ref>

The 2014–15 season saw the Premiership expand to nine teams for the first time in its history. [[Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves|Wellington Phoenix Reserves]] was added to the competition to provide game time for the members of the Phoenix squad who are not playing frequently for the first team in the A-League. Restrictions were also put in place for all clubs requiring that at least 50% of match day squads are players who are eligible to play for the All Whites.<ref name="Phoenix">{{cite web|date=22 August 2014|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11312753|title=Expanded ASB Premiership confirmed|website=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=13 November 2014}}</ref>

After 11 full seasons, only [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] and [[Waitakere United]] have been crowned Premiers or Champions, with Auckland City adding their sixth premiership and sixth title in the 2014–15 season. This trend was bucked, however, in the twelfth season of the competition, as [[Team Wellington]] defeated Auckland City 4–2 after extra time in the final.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/77768997/team-wellington-stun-auckland-city-to-win-asb-premiership-final-in-extra-time|title=Team Wellington claim title|website=Stuff|access-date=2016-05-24}}</ref> The 2018–19 saw [[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]] crowned as champions for the first time, becoming the first club to win the NZFC and the New Zealand National Soccer League.

===2016 expansion===
In December 2015 it was announced that the league would be expanding to 10 teams for the 2016–17 season with [[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]] from Auckland, [[Hamilton Wanderers]] from Hamilton, and [[Tasman United]] from [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]] joining the league, while [[WaiBop United]] would exit the competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/new-trio-to-join-asb-premiership/|title=New trio to join ASB Premiership|publisher=[[New Zealand Football]]|date=16 December 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014923/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/new-trio-to-join-asb-premiership/|archive-date=5 March 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

===Rebrandings===

In September 2016, it was announced that the expanded league would be rebranded as the '''Stirling Sports Premiership'''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/lift-off-for-stirling-sports-premiership/|title=Lift off for Stirling Sports Premiership|publisher=[[New Zealand Football]]|date=26 September 2016|access-date=26 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160929232939/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/lift-off-for-stirling-sports-premiership/|archive-date=29 September 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In March 2017, it was announced that the league would be rebranded as the '''ISPS Handa Premiership''', due to a three-year sponsorship deal with [[International Sports Promotion Society|ISPS Handa]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/isps-handa-premiership-announced/|title=ISPS Handa Premiership announced|publisher=[[New Zealand Football]]|date=27 March 2017|access-date=14 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401071616/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/isps-handa-premiership-announced/|archive-date=1 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===National League Championship===
In March 2021, [[New Zealand Football]] announced a change to the structure of both the premiership and the top regional leagues around the country. The four top regional leagues ([[NRFL Premier]], [[Central Premier League]], [[Mainland Premier League]] and the [[FootballSouth Premier League]]) would be formed into the Northern League, Central League, and the Southern League. These leagues would allow local clubs to qualify for the premiership season (now known as the '''National League Championship'''), with the top 4 teams from the Northern League, the top 3 teams from the Central League, and the top 2 teams from the Southern League making up the competition, alongside the [[Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves|Wellington Phoenix Reserve]] side. All teams that qualify plus the Phoenix Reserves, would then play a single round-robin competition between September and December.<ref name="NLChampionship"/>

==Clubs==
Until 2019, the New Zealand Football Championship had no promotion or relegation, similar to leagues in Australia and the United States. A promotion and relegation system was to be introduced to the National League in 2020/2021, taking the form of a slot protection model. This model protects one National League slot for each major region of the country to protect geographic representation and maintain a pathway for all clubs into the ISPS Handa Premiership. A slot for the Wellington Phoenix's reserve side was to also be protected. Promotion and relegation were to be decided every 4 years.

{{Location map+|New Zealand|width = 450|float = right|caption =Location of all clubs in New Zealand for all seasons of the league  |places =
{{Location map~|New Zealand|label_size=90|marksize=12|lat=-36.8001 |long=174.5957|position=left|mark=waitakcolours.png|label={{nowrap|[[Waitakere United]] }}}}
{{location map~ |New Zealand |lat=-36.848270   |long= 174.762491  |label_size=80|label=Auckland|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}
{{Location map~ |New Zealand |mark=TransparentPlaceholder.png |marksize=1 |lat=-34.885158 |long=166.630608 |label_size=80|label='''Auckland&nbsp;teams:'''<br>
[[File:ACFCcolours.png|12px|border]] [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]<br>
[[File:EasternSuburbsAFCColours.png|12px|border]] [[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]]<br>
[[File:WanderersSCcolors.png|12px|border]] [[Wanderers Special Club|Wanderers SC]]<br><br>
'''Wellington&nbsp;teams:'''<br>
[[File:WellingtonColours.png|12px|border]] [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]<br>
{{nowrap|[[File:WellingtonPhoenixColours.png|12px|border]] [[Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves|Wellington Phoenix Reserves]]}}
|position=right}}
{{location map~ |New Zealand |marksize=12|lat=-37.756757   |long= 175.291134  |label_size=80|label={{nowrap|[[Hamilton Wanderers AFC|Hamilton Wanderers]]}}|mark=HamiltonWanderersAFCColours.png|position=top}}
{{location map~ |New Zealand |marksize=12|lat=-37.887384   |long= 175.455638  |label_size=80|label={{nowrap|[[WaiBOP United]]}}|mark=WaiBOPcolours.png|position=bottom}}
{{location map~ |New Zealand |lat=-41.292504   |long=174.778755  |label_size=80|label=Wellington|mark=Green pog.svg|position=right}}
{{Location map~|New Zealand|label_size=90|marksize=12|lat=-41.327872   |long= 173.213073|position=bottom|mark=TasmanUnitedColours.png|label=
{{nowrap|[[Tasman United]]}}}}
{{Location map~|New Zealand|label_size=90|marksize=12|lat=-43.530459   |long= 172.635102|position=left|mark=Cantabcolours.png|label={{nowrap|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]}}}}
{{Location map~|New Zealand|label_size=90|marksize=12|lat=-39.508197   |long= 176.856895|position=right|mark=Hawkesbaycolours.png|label=[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]}}
{{Location map~|New Zealand|label_size=90|marksize=12|lat=-45.863274   |long= 170.526950|position=right|mark=Otagocolours.png|label={{nowrap|[[Southern United FC|Southern United]]}}}}
{{Location map~|New Zealand|label_size=90|marksize=12|lat=-40.3464 |long=175.6346|position=bottom|mark=Yhmcolours.png|label={{nowrap|[[Manawatu United]]}}}}
}}

===Current clubs===
{| class="wikitable" text-align:left;"
|-
!width=250|Team
!width=250|City, Region
!width=200|Stadium
!width=70|Joined
!width=200|Head Coach
|-
|[[File:ACFCcolours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|[[Auckland]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]]
|[[Kiwitea Street]]
|align=center|2004
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[José Figueira]]
|-
|[[File:Cantabcolours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]'''
|[[Christchurch]], [[Canterbury, New Zealand|Canterbury]]
|[[English Park]]
|align=center|2004
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Lee Padmore
|-
|[[File:EasternSuburbsAFCColours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]]'''
|[[Auckland]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]]
|[[Madills Farm Reserve|Madills Farm]]
|align=center|2016
|{{flagicon|NZL}} Hoani Edwards
|-
|[[File:HamiltonWanderersAFCColours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Hamilton Wanderers AFC|Hamilton Wanderers]]'''
|[[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]], [[Waikato]]
|[[Porritt Stadium]]
|align=center|2016
|{{flagicon|NZL}} Kale Herbert
|-
|[[File:Hawkesbaycolours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]'''
|[[Napier, New Zealand|Napier]], [[Hawke's Bay Region|Hawke's Bay]]
|[[Bluewater Stadium]]
|align=center|2005
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Bill Robertson<br />{{flagicon|ENG}} Chris Greatholder
|-
|[[File:WellingtonColours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Team Wellington]]'''
|[[Wellington]], [[Wellington Region|Wellington]]
|[[David Farrington Park]]
|align=center|2004
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Scott Hales
|-
|[[File:Waitakcolours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Waitakere United]]'''
|[[Whenuapai]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]]
|[[Fred Taylor Park]]
|align=center|2004
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Hobson
|-
|[[File:WellingtonPhoenixColours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves|Wellington Phoenix Reserves]]'''
|[[Wellington]], [[Wellington Region|Wellington]]
|[[Newtown Park]]
|align=center|2014
|{{flagicon|ENG}} Paul Temple
|}

===Former clubs===
{| class="wikitable" text-align:left;"
|-
!width=250|Team
!width=250|City, Region
!width=70|Joined
!width=70|Left
|-
|[[File:Yhmcolours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]'''
|[[Palmerston North]], [[Manawatū-Whanganui]]
|align=center|2004
|align=center|2013
|-
|[[File:WanderersSCcolors.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Wanderers Special Club|Wanderers SC]]'''
|[[North Shore, New Zealand|North Shore]], [[Auckland Region|Auckland]]
|align=center|2013
|align=center|2015
|-
| |[[File:WaiBOPcolours.png|18px|border]] '''[[WaiBOP United]]'''
|[[Cambridge, New Zealand|Cambridge]], [[Waikato]]
|align=center|2004
|align=center|2016
|-
|[[File:Otagocolours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Southern United FC|Southern United]]'''
|[[Dunedin]], [[Otago]]
|align=center|2004
|align=center|2020
|-
|[[File:TasmanUnitedColours.png|18px|border]]  '''[[Tasman United]]'''
|[[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]], [[Nelson, New Zealand|Nelson]]
|align=center|2016
|align=center|2020
|}

===Name changes===
*'''[[Napier City Rovers FC|Napier City Rovers]] → [[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]'''
*'''[[Southern United FC|Otago United]] → [[Southern United FC|Southern United]]'''
*'''[[WaiBOP United|Waikato FC]] → [[WaiBOP United]]'''

==Champions and premiers==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!rowspan=2 |Season
!colspan=4|Regular Season
!colspan=3|Grand Final
|-
!Premiers
!Points
!Runners-up
!Points
!Champions
!Score
!Runners-up
|-
|[[2004–05 New Zealand Football Championship|2004–05]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|46
|align=center|[[Waitakere United]]
|40
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|'''3 – 2'''
|align=center|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|[[2005–06 New Zealand Football Championship|2005–06]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|48
|align=center|[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]
|46
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|'''3 – 3 ([[Extra-time|a.e.t.]])'''<br /><small>'''4 – 3 ([[Penalty shootout (association football)|p.s.o.]])'''</small>
|align=center|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]
|-
|[[2006–07 New Zealand Football Championship|2006–07]]
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]'''
|47
|align=center|[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]
|45
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|  '''3 – 2'''
|align=center|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|[[2007–08 New Zealand Football Championship|2007–08]]
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]'''
|51
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|50
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]'''
| '''2 – 0'''
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|[[2008–09 New Zealand Football Championship|2008–09]]
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]'''
|33
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|25
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
| '''2 – 1'''
|align=center|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|[[2009–10 New Zealand Football Championship|2009–10]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''
|31
|align=center|[[Waitakere United]]
|29
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]''' 
| '''3 – 1'''
|align=center| [[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]
|-
|[[2010–11 ASB Premiership|2010–11]]
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]''' 
|36
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] 
|30
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]''' 
| '''3 – 2'''
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|[[2011–12 ASB Premiership|2011–12]]
|align=center|''' [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] '''
|36
|align=center|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]
|29
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]''' 
| '''4 – 1'''
|align=center| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|[[2012–13 ASB Premiership|2012–13]]
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]''' 
|37
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] 
|33
|align=center|'''[[Waitakere United]]''' 
| '''4 – 3'''<br />'''([[Extra-time|a.e.t.]])'''
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|[[2013–14 ASB Premiership|2013–14]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|33
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|26
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
| '''1 – 0'''
|align=center| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|[[2014–15 ASB Premiership|2014–15]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|42
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|30
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|'''2 – 1'''
|align=center| [[Hawke's Bay United]]
|-
|[[2015–16 ASB Premiership|2015–16]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|38
|align=center|[[Hawke's Bay United]]
|30
|align=center|'''[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]''' 
| '''4 – 2'''<br />'''([[Extra-time|a.e.t.]])'''
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|[[2016–17 New Zealand Football Championship|2016–17]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|36
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|36
|align=center|'''[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]''' 
| '''2 – 1'''
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|[[2017–18 New Zealand Football Championship|2017–18]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|40
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|37
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
| '''1 – 0'''
|align=center| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|[[2018–19 New Zealand Football Championship|2018–19]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|52
|align=center|[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]]
|40
|align=center|'''[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]]''' 
| '''3 – 0'''
|align=center| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|[[2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship|2019–20]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|37<sup>†</sup>
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|34<sup>†</sup>
|align=center| [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
| '''''Not played'''''<sup>†</sup>
|align=center| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|[[2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship|2020–21]]
|align=center|'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' 
|28
|align=center|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|26
|align=center|'''[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]] '''
| '''4 – 2'''
|align=center|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|}

<small><sup>†</sup> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the 2019–20 season was concluded after 16 rounds. The remaining two rounds of the regular season and the finals series were cancelled. [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]], who were leading the regular season table, were declared champions and also awarded the Minor Premiership, and qualified for the [[2021 OFC Champions League]] together with [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]], who were at second place in the regular season table.<ref name="covid">{{cite web |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/88417 |title=Premiership concluded, Auckland City champions |publisher=New Zealand Football |date=18 March 2020}}</ref><ref name="auckchamps">{{cite web|url=http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1174/12/Auckland-City-FC-declared-champions-/ |title=Auckland City FC declared champions |publisher=Auckland City FC |date=18 March 2020}}</ref></small>

===Premiership winners===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left;"
|-
!Team
!Titles
!Runners-up
!Winning Years
|-
| [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] || {{center|12}} ||{{center|4}} || 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21
|-
| [[Waitakere United]] || {{center|5}}  || {{center|2}} || 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
|-
| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|6}} ||
|-
| [[YoungHeart Manawatu]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|2}} ||
|-
| [[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|1}} ||
|-
| [[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|1}} ||
|-
| [[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|1}} ||
|}

===Championship winners===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: left; font-size:95%;"
|-
!Team
!Titles
!Runners-up
!Winning Years
|-
| [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] || {{center|8}} || {{center|5}} || 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2019–20
|-
| [[Waitakere United]] ||{{center|5}} || {{center|3}} || 2007–08, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
|-
| [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]] || {{center|3}} || {{center|6}} || 2015–16, 2016–17, 2020–21
|-
| [[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]] || {{center|1}} || {{center|–}} || 2018–19
|-
| [[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|2}} ||
|-
| [[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]] || {{center|–}} || {{center|1}} ||
|}

==Awards==

===Golden Boot===
The Golden Boot is presented to the player who scores the most goals during the season.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!width=60|Year
!width=170|Player
!width=170|Club
!width=50|Goals
|-
| [[2007–08 New Zealand Football Championship|2007–08]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} Graham Little
|align=left|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
| '''12'''
|-
| [[2008–09 New Zealand Football Championship|2008–09]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|CRC}} Luis Corrales
|align=left|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
| '''12'''
|-
| [[2009–10 New Zealand Football Championship|2009–10]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|VAN}} [[Seule Soromon]]
|align=left|[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]
| '''9'''
|-
| [[2010–11 New Zealand Football Championship|2010–11]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Allan Pearce]]
|align=left|[[Waitakere United]]
| '''13'''
|-
| [[2011–12 New Zealand Football Championship|2011–12]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|PNG}} [[George Slefendorfas]]
|align=left|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]
| '''12'''
|-
| [[2012–13 New Zealand Football Championship|2012–13]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Roy Krishna]]
|align=left|[[Waitakere United]]
| '''12'''
|-
| [[2013–14 New Zealand Football Championship|2013–14]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Emiliano Tade]]
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
| '''12'''
|-
| [[2014–15 New Zealand Football Championship|2014–15]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|USA}} [[Tyler Boyd (footballer)|Tyler Boyd]]<br/> {{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tom Jackson (footballer, born 1991)|Tom Jackson]]<br/> {{flagicon|NZL}} [[Sean Lovemore]]
|align=left|[[Wellington Phoenix]]<br/> [[Southern United]]<br/> [[Hawke's Bay United]]
| '''10'''
|-
| [[2015–16 New Zealand Football Championship|2015–16]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ryan De Vries]]
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
| '''15'''
|-
| [[2016–17 New Zealand Football Championship|2016–17]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Tom Jackson (footballer, born 1991)|Tom Jackson]]
|align=left|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
| '''16'''
|-
| [[2017–18 New Zealand Football Championship|2017–18]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|ARG}} [[Emiliano Tade]]
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
| '''16'''
|-
| [[2018–19 New Zealand Football Championship|2018–19]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Callum McCowatt]]
|align=left|[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]]
| '''21'''
|-
| [[2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship|2019–20]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Myer Bevan]]
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
| '''15'''
|-
| [[2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship|2020–21]]
|align=left|{{flagicon|GHA}} [[Derek Tieku]]<br/>{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Hamish Watson (footballer)|Hamish Watson]]<sup>†</sup>
|align=left|[[Hamilton Wanderers AFC|Hamilton Wanderers]]<br/>[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
| '''12'''
|}
<small><sup>†</sup> Due to reaching 12 goals in less games, Hamish Watson was awarded the trophy at the Grand finals.<ref name="Welly"/></small>

===Steve Sumner Trophy===
The Steve Sumner Trophy is presented to the man of the match in the final. 

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!Year
!Player
!Club
|-
|[[2017–18 New Zealand Football Championship|2017–18]]<ref name="double">{{cite news |last1=Voerman |first1=Andrew |title=Callum McCowatt stars as Eastern Suburbs win national men's football league final |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/domestic/111676313/callum-mccowatt-stars-as-eastern-suburbs-win-national-mens-football-league-final |access-date=8 March 2021 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=31 March 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
|[[Callum McCowatt]]
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|[[2018–19 New Zealand Football Championship|2018–19]]<ref name="double"/>
|[[Callum McCowatt]]
|[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]]
|-
|[[2019–20 New Zealand Football Championship|2019–20]]
| colspan="2" style="text-align: center;" | ''Not awarded''<sup>†</sup>
|-
|[[2020–21 New Zealand Football Championship|2020–21]]<ref name="Welly">{{cite web |title=REPORT Team Wellington crowned 2020/21 ISPS Handa Men's Premiership champions |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/101470 |website=[[New Zealand Football]] |access-date=21 March 2021}}</ref>
| Andy Bevin
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|}
<small><sup>†</sup> Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]], the 2019–20 season was concluded after 16 rounds and the final series wasn't played.<ref name="covid"/><ref name="auckchamps"/></small>

===Team of the Decade===
In 2014, to celebrate the first 10 years of the league under the franchise format (2004–05 to 2013–14), New Zealand Football announced an official Team of the Decade and five individual player awards.<ref Name=TotD>{{cite web|date=3 December 2013|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/asb-premiership-team-of-the-decade-competition/|title=ASB Premiership Team of the Decade Competition|website=New Zealand Football|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513125547/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/asb-premiership-team-of-the-decade-competition/|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=PotD>{{cite web |date=18 March 2014|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11221764|title=Jordan named ASB Premiership Player of the Decade|website=The New Zealand Herald|access-date=13 May 2016}}</ref>

Prior to the ASB Premiership Grand Final in 2014, the Team of the Decade was announced, as selected by a panel of media experts.<ref name=PotD /> The team was selected in a 4–3–3 formation.
{|class="wikitable"
|-
!Position
!Player
!Club(s)
|-
|[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Robinson]]
|[[WaiBOP United|Waikato]], [[Waitakere United]]
|-
| rowspan="4" style="vertical-align:middle;"|[[Defender (association football)|Defenders]]
|{{Flag icon|NZL}} [[James Pritchett (footballer)|James Pritchett]]
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ivan Vicelich]]
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|NZL}} [[Danny Hay]]
|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|NZL}} [[Ian Hogg (footballer)|Ian Hogg]]
| [[Hawke's Bay United]], [[Waitakere United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="vertical-align:middle;"|[[Midfielder]]s
|{{Flag icon|WAL}} [[Chris Bale (footballer)|Chris Bale]]
|[[Waitakere United]], [[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Aaron Clapham]]
|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|ESP}} [[Albert Riera (footballer, born 1983)|Albert Riera]]
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
| rowspan="3" style="vertical-align:middle;"|[[Forward (association football)|Strikers]]
|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Keryn Jordan]]
|[[Waitakere United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|{{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Roy Krishna]]
|[[Waitakere United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|SOL}} [[Benjamin Totori]]
|[[YoungHeart Manawatu]], [[Waitakere United]]
|-
| rowspan="5" style="vertical-align:middle;"|[[Substitute (association football)|Substitutes]]
|{{Flag icon|NZL}} [[Ross Nicholson]] (RGK)
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]], [[YoungHeart Manawatu]]
|-
|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ben Sigmund]]
|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|NZL}} [[Jake Butler]]
|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|NZL}} [[Allan Pearce]]
|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|{{Flag icon|RSA}} [[Grant Young (footballer)|Grant Young]]
| [[Hawke's Bay United]], [[Waitakere United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|[[Manager (association football)|Coach]]
|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Allan Jones (football coach)|Alan Jones]]
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|}

===Players of the Decade===
Throughout the 2013–14 national league season, four Player of the Decade awards (based on playing position) were announced and prior to the 2014 Grand Final an overall Player of the Decade was announced. These awards were decided by a panel of media experts with input from fans via a public vote.<ref Name=TotD />

{| class="wikitable" 
|-
!|Award
!|Player
!Club(s)
|-
| Player of the Decade<ref name=PotD />
|align=left|{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Keryn Jordan]]
|align=left|[[Waitakere United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
| Goalkeeper of the Decade<ref>{{cite web|date=3 February 2014|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-goalkeeper-of-the-decade/|title=Panel picks ASB Premiership Goalkeeper of the Decade|website=New Zealand Football|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513132058/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-goalkeeper-of-the-decade/|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Robinson]]
|align=left|[[WaiBOP United|Waikato]], [[Waitakere United]]
|-
| Defender of the Decade<ref>{{cite web|date=30 January 2014|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-defender-of-the-decade/|title=Panel picks ASB Premiership Defender of the Decade|website=New Zealand Football|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513131057/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-defender-of-the-decade/|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Ivan Vicelich]]
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
| Midfielder of the Decade<ref>{{cite web|date=21 January 2014|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-midfielder-of-the-decade/|title=Panel picks ASB Premiership Midfielder of the Decade|website=New Zealand Football|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513133043/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-midfielder-of-the-decade/|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|NZL}} [[Aaron Clapham]]
|align=left|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]
|-
| Striker of the Decade<ref>{{cite web|date=17 January 2014|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-striker-of-the-decade/|title=Panel picks ASB Premiership Striker of the Decade|website=New Zealand Football|access-date=13 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513133047/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/panel-picks-asb-premiership-striker-of-the-decade/|archive-date=13 May 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align=left|{{flagicon|FIJ}} [[Roy Krishna]]
|align=left|[[Waitakere United]], [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|}

==Records and statistics==

; Regular season matches
''Updated to end of 2020–21 season''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!width=170|Club
!width=25|{{tooltip|SP|Seasons played}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|Pts|Points earned}}
!width=25|1st
!width=25|2nd
!width=25|3rd
!width=25|4th
|-
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] ||17 ||282 ||200 ||47 ||35 ||699 ||278 ||+421 ||647 ||12||4||1||-
|-
|align=left|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]] ||17 ||282 ||115 ||53 ||114 ||461 ||444 ||+17 ||398 ||-||1||4||5
|-
|align=left|[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]] ||5 ||84 ||43 ||14 ||27 ||176 ||114 ||+62 ||143 ||-||1||-||3
|-
|align=left|[[Hamilton Wanderers AFC|Hamilton Wanderers]] ||5 ||84 ||21 ||13 ||50 ||128 ||204 ||−76 ||76 ||-||-||1||-
|-
|align=left|[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]¹ ||17 ||282 ||101 ||51 ||130 ||477 ||582 ||−105 ||354 ||-||1||2||3
|-
|align=left|[[Southern United FC|Southern United]]² ||16 ||268 ||59 ||49 ||160 ||308 ||593 ||−285 ||226 ||-||-||-||-
|-
|align=left|[[Tasman United]] ||4 ||70 ||19 ||17 ||34 ||112 ||143 ||−31 ||74 ||-||-||-||-
|-
|align=left|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]] ||17 ||282 ||145 ||54 ||83 ||613 ||445 ||+168 ||489 ||-||6||4||4
|-
|align=left|[[WaiBOP United]]³ ||12 ||198 ||61 ||28 ||109 ||272 ||410 ||−138 ||211 ||-||-||1||- 
|-
|align=left|[[Waitakere United]] ||17 ||282 ||151 ||42 ||89 ||602 ||413 ||+189 ||495 ||5||2||3||2
|-
|align=left|[[Wanderers Special Club|Wanderers SC]] ||2 ||30 ||6 ||4 ||20 ||43 ||68 ||−25 ||22 ||-||-||-||-
|-
|align=left|[[Wellington Phoenix FC Reserves|Wellington Phoenix Reserves]] ||7 ||114 ||28 ||20 ||66 ||183 ||289 ||−106 ||104 ||-||-||-||-
|-
|align=left|[[Manawatu United|YoungHeart Manawatu]] ||9 ||154 ||51 ||25 ||78 ||253 ||344 ||−91 ||178 ||-||2||1||-
|}

:<small>¹ Includes record as Napier City Rovers</small>
:<small>² Includes record as Otago United</small>
:<small>³ Includes record as Waikato FC</small>

; Finals matches
''As of the conclusion of the 2020–21 season''
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
!width=170|Club
!width=25|{{tooltip|SP|Seasons played}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|Pld|Matches played}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|W|Matches won}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|D|Matches drawn}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|L|Matches lost}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!width=25|{{tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!width=25|1st
!width=25|2nd
|-
|align=left|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] ||16 ||34 ||22 ||1 ||11 ||78 ||52 ||+26 ||8 ||5
|-
|align=left|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]] ||13 ||29 ||15 ||2 ||12 ||55 ||58 ||−3 ||3 ||6
|-
|align=left|[[Waitakere United]] ||11 ||24 ||13 ||1 ||10 ||64 ||52 ||+12 ||5 ||3
|-
|align=left|[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]] ||8 ||16 ||4 ||2 ||10 ||19 ||32 ||−13 ||- ||2
|-
|align=left|[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]¹ ||5 ||9 ||1 ||0 ||8 ||13 ||24 ||−11 ||- ||1
|-
|align=left|[[Eastern Suburbs AFC|Eastern Suburbs]] ||3 ||4 ||2 ||0 ||2 ||5 ||6 ||−1 ||1 ||-
|-
|align=left|[[YoungHeart Manawatu]] ||3 ||5 ||1 ||1 ||3 ||6 ||10 ||−4 ||- ||-
|-
|align=left|[[Southern United FC|Southern United]]² ||1 ||1 ||0 ||1 ||0 ||2 ||2 ||0 ||- ||-
|-
|align=left|[[Hamilton Wanderers AFC|Hamilton Wanderers]] ||1 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||4 ||−3 ||- ||-
|-
|align=left|[[WaiBOP United]]³ ||1 ||1 ||0 ||0 ||1 ||1 ||4 ||−3 ||- ||-
|}

:<small>¹ Includes record as Napier City Rovers</small>
:<small>² Includes record as Otago United</small>
:<small>³ Includes record as Waikato FC</small>

; Largest victories
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=80|Season
!width=200|Home team 
!width=60|Result 
!width=200|Away team 
!width=130|Date
|-
|2013–14 ||[[Southern United FC|Southern United]] ||'''0 – 10''' ||''' [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''||16 February 2013
|-
|2006–07 ||'''[[Waitakere United]]''' ||'''8 – 0''' ||[[Southern United FC|Southern United]]||8 March 2007
|-
|2007–08 ||[[YoungHeart Manawatu]] ||'''0 – 8''' ||'''[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]''' ||6 January 2008
|-
|2007–08 ||[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]] ||'''1 – 9''' ||'''[[Waitakere United]]'''||20 January 2008
|-
|2011–12 ||'''[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]''' ||'''9 – 1''' ||[[YoungHeart Manawatu]] ||22 January 2012
|-
|2012–13 ||[[WaiBOP United|Waikato]] ||'''1 – 9''' ||'''[[Waitakere United]]'''||20 January 2013
|-
|2005–06 ||'''[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]''' ||'''8 – 1''' ||[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]||18 February 2006
|-
|2006–07 ||'''[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]''' ||'''7 – 0''' ||[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]||26 January 2007
|-
|2011–12 ||'''[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]''' ||'''7 – 0''' ||[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]||4 February 2012
|}
; Highest scoring matches
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|-
!width=80|Season
!width=200|Home team 
!width=60|Result 
!width=200|Away team 
!width=130|Date
|-
|2005–06 ||[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]|| '''4 – 6''' ||''' [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]''' ||7 January 2006
|-
|2007–08 ||[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]] || '''1 – 9''' ||''' [[Waitakere United]]''' ||20 January 2008
|-
|2011–12 ||'''[[Canterbury United Dragons|Canterbury United]]''' || '''9 – 1''' ||[[YoungHeart Manawatu]] ||22 January 2012
|-
|2012–13 ||[[WaiBOP United|Waikato]]|| '''1 – 9''' ||'''[[Waitakere United]]'''||20 January 2013
|-
|2012–13 ||'''[[Waitakere United]]''' || '''6 – 4''' ||[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]||9 March 2013
|-
|2013–14 ||[[Southern United FC|Southern United]] || '''0 – 10''' ||'''[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]'''||16 February 2013
|-
|2005–06 ||'''[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]''' || '''8 – 1''' ||[[Hawke's Bay United FC|Hawke's Bay United]]||18 February 2006
|-
|2007–08 ||[[WaiBOP United|Waikato]] || '''4 – 5''' ||'''[[YoungHeart Manawatu]]'''||30 March 2008
|-
|2011–12 ||[[YoungHeart Manawatu]] || '''2 – 7''' ||'''[[Waitakere United]]''' ||15 January 2012
|}

==Related competitions==

===OFC Champions League===
{{Main|OFC Champions League}}
The '''OFC Champions League''', also known as the '''O-League''', is the premier football competition in Oceania. It is organized by the OFC, Oceania's football governing body. It has been organized since 2007 under the current format, following its successor, the Oceania Club Championship. Two teams from the ISPS Handa Premiership participate annually. Four O-League titles have been won by teams from New Zealand.

===ASB Charity Cup===
{{Main|Charity Cup}}
The '''ASB Charity Cup''' was introduced in 2011 as a season opener played the weekend before the first matches of the ASB Premiership season.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://www.aucklandfootball.org.nz/index.php?id=44&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=1483&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=9b7de56cc0|title=Charity Cup clash for Auckland rivals|date=12 October 2011|website=aucklandfootball.org.nz|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref> The fixture pits the ASB Premiership Grand Final winner against the best performing New Zealand team in the OFC Champions League.<ref name=":0" /> However, when the same team fills both categories as Auckland City did in 2014 and 2015 the ASB Premiership runner-up qualifies for Charity Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/grand-finalists-meet-in-asb-charity-cup/|title=Grand Finalists meet in ASB Charity Cup|date=2014-10-18|website=New Zealand Football|access-date=2016-05-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602091349/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/grand-finalists-meet-in-asb-charity-cup/|archive-date=2 June 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>
{| style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;" class="wikitable"
|-
!Year
! Winner
! |Score
! Runner-up
|-
|2011
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|3–2
|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|2012
|[[Waitakere United]]
|2–1
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|2013
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|4–1
|[[Waitakere United]]
|-
|2014
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|2–2
(4–3 PSO)
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|-
|2015
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|3–0
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|2016
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|3–1
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|-
|2017
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|3–1
|[[Auckland City FC]]
|-
|2018
|[[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]]
|4–3
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|}

; ASB Phoenix Challenge

The 2010–11 season saw the introduction of the ASB Challenge Series. This was an individual friendly competition in which the eight Premiership teams competed against a reserve team attached to [[Wellington Phoenix FC|Wellington Phoenix]], a New Zealand-based team playing in the Australian [[A-League]]. The ASB Phoenix Challenge was discontinued after the 2010–11 season but reinstated for 2012–2013, its last appearance.

; White Ribbon Cup
{{Main|White Ribbon Cup}}
'''The White Ribbon Cup''', is a [[Single-elimination tournament|knockout]] cup competition run by New Zealand Football. The 2011–12 season will be the inaugural season of the NZF Cup.

It was established in 2011 to provide regular football for the six clubs not participating in the Oceania Champions League and runs in conjunction with the ISPS Handa Premiership regular season.<ref name="White Ribbon Cup">{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/football/6058505/Canterbury-Uniteds-Kamo-unlikely-for-first-round |title=Canterbury United's Kamo unlikely for first round |first=David |last=Hallett |work=[[The Press]] |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=2011-11-30}}</ref>

<!-- {{mainarticle|White Ribbon Cup}} -->
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;"
|-
! Season
! Winner
! |Score
! Runner-up
|-
|2011–12
|[[Team Wellington FC|Team Wellington]]
|6–1
|[[Waikato FC]]
|}

===National Youth League===
{{Main|National Youth League (New Zealand)}}
New Zealand Football additionally ran the [[National Youth League (New Zealand)|National Youth League]], a competition for the youth teams for each of the clubs in the New Zealand Football Championship. It was held between October and December, and consisted of each team playing each other once; the fixture list mirroring that of the senior league. The team with the most points at the end of the season became the champions. The final champions were the youth team of [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/57112?newsfeedId=569188&newsfeedPageNum=1 |title=NYL – Auckland City claim title |work=Nzfootball.co.nz |date=2020-01-15 |access-date=20 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120095544/http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/newsarticle/57112?newsfeedId=569188&newsfeedPageNum=1 |archive-date=20 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> After a review by [[New Zealand Football]] of all their national competitions,<ref name="Review">{{cite web |title=National competitions review – The way forward |url=https://www.nzfootball.co.nz/asset/downloadasset?id=71b5e113-30af-4b30-88e3-b6789bb23921 |website=[[New Zealand Football]] |accessdate=22 November 2019}}</ref> it was decided to end the national youth competition with its last season being 2019.<ref name="Review"/><ref name="Ended">{{cite news |last1=Hepburn |first1=Steve |title=Southern Utd's future looks assured under new league setup |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/football/southern-utds-future-looks-assured-under-new-league-setup |accessdate=22 November 2019|publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=2 November 2019}}</ref> In the last season of the competition, [[Auckland City FC|Auckland City]] won its seventh title as well as winning three in a row from 2017 to 2019 to finish as champions of the competition.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vollenhoven seals three-in-a-row |url=http://www.aucklandcityfc.com/news/1087/12/Vollenhoven-seals-three-in-a-row/ |website=[[Auckland City FC]] |access-date=16 March 2021 |language=EN}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Association football in New Zealand|Football in New Zealand]]
* [[New Zealand National Soccer League]]
* [[National Women's League (New Zealand)|National Women's League]]
* [[Chatham Cup]]
* [[Kate Sheppard Cup]]
* [[Auckland derby|Auckland Derby]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060419061045/http://www.nzfc.co.nz/ ISPS Handa Premiership official website]
* [http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/ NZ Football official website]
* [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesn/nzchamp.html RSSSF.com – New Zealand – List of Champions]

{{New Zealand Football Championship}}
{{NZNSL}}
{{OFC Leagues}}
{{NZ fb general}}

[[Category:New Zealand Football Championship| ]]
[[Category:Top-level football leagues in Oceania|New Zealand]]
[[Category:Association football leagues in New Zealand|1]]
[[Category:Summer association football leagues]]
[[Category:National championships in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Sports leagues established in 2004]]
[[Category:2004 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Professional sports leagues in New Zealand]]
[[Category:Sports leagues disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:2021 disestablishments in New Zealand]]