The ANZ Premiership is New Zealand’s top professional netball competition, a six-team league that crowns the country’s domestic champion each year and acts as the main selection pathway for the Silver Ferns, the national team. Launched in 2017 after the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship was split in two, the league has built a reputation for fast, technical, high-scoring netball. This guide explains how the competition is run, introduces all six franchises, tracks every champion from 2017 through to the 2026 season, and breaks down the headline 2025 rule changes, including the two-point “Super Shot”. Whether you are new to the sport or following the latest grand final, you will find the key facts set out clearly below.
Key Facts
| Competition | ANZ Premiership |
| Sport | Netball (women’s) |
| Founded | 2016 (first season 2017) |
| Predecessor | ANZ Championship (2008–2016) |
| Governing body | Netball New Zealand |
| Teams | 6 regional franchises |
| Format | Double round-robin, then Elimination Final and Grand Final |
| Most titles | Northern Mystics (4) |
| 2026 champions | Northern Mystics (def. Southern Steel 56–46) |
| Broadcaster (2026) | TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+ (free-to-air) |
How the ANZ Premiership works
The ANZ Premiership sits at the top of New Zealand’s netball pyramid, above the semi-professional National Netball League (NNL). It is run by Netball New Zealand, the sport’s national governing body, and features six regional franchises that each represent a part of the country. Confirming the league was founded in 2016, the first season was played in 2017, directly replacing the ANZ Championship (2008–2016), which had also included Australian teams.
The season format has evolved, but the core structure is a round-robin regular season followed by a short finals series. In recent years the six teams have played each other twice across a condensed regular season of 10 rounds. The top three sides on the ladder then contest the finals: the teams finishing second and third meet in an Elimination Final, and the winner travels to face the first-placed team in the Grand Final. The side that tops the regular-season ladder is awarded the Minor Premiership, a separate honour from the Grand Final title.
From the trans-Tasman era to a home-grown league
Splitting away from the ANZ Championship let New Zealand rebuild a distinct playing identity, with more court time for emerging Kiwi players instead of sharing a competition with Australian clubs. The trans-Tasman years were physically intense, and only one New Zealand side ever won that title — the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2012. For wider context on the long-running sporting rivalries between the two countries, see Wikipedia. Since 2017 the domestic format has let coaches develop a recognisably New Zealand style built on zone defence, movement and shooting accuracy.
Roll of honour: every ANZ Premiership champion
Ten seasons have been played between 2017 and 2026. The Northern Mystics are the most successful franchise with four titles, ahead of the Central Pulse on three and the Southern Steel on two, while the Mainland Tactix broke through for their first in 2025. The table below lists every Grand Final result.
| Season | Champions | Runner-up | Grand Final score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Southern Steel | Central Pulse | 69–53 |
| 2018 | Southern Steel | Central Pulse | 54–53 |
| 2019 | Central Pulse | Northern Stars | 52–48 |
| 2020 | Central Pulse | Mainland Tactix | 43–31 |
| 2021 | Northern Mystics | Mainland Tactix | 61–59 |
| 2022 | Central Pulse | Northern Stars | 56–37 |
| 2023 | Northern Mystics | Northern Stars | 74–56 |
| 2024 | Northern Mystics | Central Pulse | 54–53 |
| 2025 | Mainland Tactix | Northern Mystics | 58–46 |
| 2026 | Northern Mystics | Southern Steel | 56–46 |
Southern Steel: the league’s first dynasty
The Southern Steel, based at Stadium Southland in Invercargill, dominated the opening two seasons. In 2017, coached by Reinga Bloxham, they completed an unbeaten regular season before beating the Central Pulse 69–53 in the first Grand Final. Powered by prolific Jamaican goal shooter Jhaniele Fowler and captained by Wendy Frew, the Steel then defended the title in 2018 with a one-goal 54–53 win over the Pulse, becoming the league’s first repeat champions.
- Home base: Stadium Southland, Invercargill.
- Championships: 2017 and 2018.
- Best recent run: 2026 runners-up, their first Grand Final in eight years.
- Notable players: Jhaniele Fowler, Wendy Frew, Jane Watson, Kimiora Poi.
The “Southern Fortress”
The Steel’s early success leaned on a strong home record, a high-volume shooting game and relentless defensive pressure that often wore opponents down in the final quarter. After several leaner years they rebuilt into a finals side again, reaching the 2026 Grand Final before losing to the Mystics.
Central Pulse: tactical consistency
The Wellington-based Central Pulse, who play at TSB Bank Arena, became the league’s model of consistency. Under coach Yvette McCausland-Durie they reached four straight Grand Finals and won the title in 2019 (52–48 over the Northern Stars), 2020 (43–31 over the Tactix) and 2022 (56–37 over the Stars). The Pulse are known for a hard-working midcourt and a defensive unit that regularly tops the league for intercepts, with long-serving figures such as Katrina Rore and Kelly Jackson (formerly Kelly Jury) central to the era.
- Home base: TSB Bank Arena, Wellington.
- Championships: 2019, 2020 and 2022.
- Minor Premierships: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2024.
- Tactical hallmark: zone defence and quick transition from turnover to goal.
The McCausland-Durie legacy
Yvette McCausland-Durie is among the most decorated coaches in the league’s short history. A big part of the Pulse’s staying power has been promoting players from their affiliated NNL side, Central Manawa, so the senior squad is constantly refreshed with locally developed talent.
Northern Mystics: the record-breaking franchise
The Northern Mystics, representing Auckland and Northland from The Trusts Arena, are the modern benchmark. After years of near misses they won their first title in 2021, edging the Tactix 61–59, then claimed back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024. A narrow 2025 final loss to the Tactix only set up a response: in 2026 the Mystics beat the Southern Steel 56–46 to lift a record fourth ANZ Premiership title and become the competition’s most successful team. Much of their early dominance was built around goal shooter Grace Nweke, whose scoring reshaped the league before her move to Australia.
- Home base: The Trusts Arena, Auckland.
- Championships: 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026 (a league-record four).
- Minor Premierships: 2021, 2023, 2025 and 2026.
- Key playmaker: Elisapeta (Peta) Toeava, 2025 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year.
Winning without Nweke
Grace Nweke set the single-season scoring record of 852 goals in 2021 and once poured in 70 goals in a single match (the 2022 Grand Final). She left the Mystics after the 2024 season to join the New South Wales Swifts in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball from 2025, so she did not feature in the 2025 or 2026 ANZ Premiership. That the Mystics still reached the 2025 final and won the 2026 title without her underlines the depth of their playmaking, led by the vision of Peta Toeava feeding the circle from almost anywhere on court.
Mainland Tactix: the 2025 breakthrough
For years the Mainland Tactix were the nearly-team, reaching finals without lifting the trophy. That changed in 2025. Under coach Donna Wilkins and captain Erikana Pedersen, the Christchurch side won their maiden title, beating the Central Pulse in the Elimination Final and then upsetting the defending champion Mystics 58–46 in the Grand Final, with shooter Ellie Bird converting 50 of her 53 attempts. It was the first time the trophy had gone to Christchurch.
- Home base: Wolfbrook Arena (Christchurch Arena), Christchurch.
- Championship: 2025 (first title).
- Defensive core: Jane Watson and Karin Burger.
- Strategy: strong rebounding and clinical finishing in the circle.
Rebuilding the Mainland identity
The Tactix’s rise was built on defence. Watson and Burger formed one of the league’s most formidable goal-circle defensive pairings, consistently leading the charts for deflections and defensive rebounds and giving the Tactix the turnover ball that fuelled their 2025 run.
Waikato BOP Magic and Northern Stars
Two franchises are still chasing a maiden Premiership title. The Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, based at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton, carry the proudest trans-Tasman record of any New Zealand club — they were the only Kiwi side ever to win the ANZ Championship, taking the 2012 crown. In the Premiership era they have focused on rebuilding and developing youth alongside senior leaders such as Ameliaranne Ekenasio. The Northern Stars, based at Pulman Arena in Takanini, South Auckland, have been regular finalists (runners-up in 2019, 2022 and 2023) but are still seeking their first title.
- Waikato BOP Magic: Hamilton; 2012 ANZ Championship winners; the only NZ trans-Tasman champion.
- Northern Stars: Takanini; three-time Premiership runners-up.
- Local rivalry: the Auckland derby between the Mystics and Stars.
- Notable players: Ameliaranne Ekenasio (Magic), Maia Wilson (Stars).
Team Comparison
| Team | Based | Home venue | Premiership titles | Recent highlight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Mystics | Auckland | The Trusts Arena | 4 (2021, 2023, 2024, 2026) | 2026 champions |
| Central Pulse | Wellington | TSB Bank Arena | 3 (2019, 2020, 2022) | 2024 runners-up |
| Southern Steel | Invercargill | Stadium Southland | 2 (2017, 2018) | 2026 runners-up |
| Mainland Tactix | Christchurch | Wolfbrook Arena | 1 (2025) | 2025 champions |
| Northern Stars | Takanini (South Auckland) | Pulman Arena | 0 | Runners-up 2019, 2022, 2023 |
| Waikato BOP Magic | Hamilton | Claudelands Arena | 0 | 2012 ANZ Championship winners |
The Magic’s resilience
The Magic have leaned on a speed-and-agility game plan to offset the height of the Auckland and Wellington franchises, and their commitment to the Waikato and Bay of Plenty community remains a cornerstone of the league’s regional spread.
The 2025 rule changes and the Super Shot
The 2025 season, which started in May, introduced the most significant rule package in the league’s history, aimed at adding late-game drama and bringing the competition closer to other professional sports. The headline change was the two-point shot, often called the Super Shot. You can see how these sit alongside the standard laws of the game in our guide to netball rules.
- Two-point shot: active in the final five minutes of each quarter, for goals scored from a two-point zone that starts 3.5 m from the post (the same distance used in Fast5).
- Coach’s box: head coaches may move into a designated area in front of the bench to communicate with players during play.
- Team time-outs: each team may call one time-out per half to reset and adjust tactics.
- Live umpire audio: umpires wear microphones so fans can hear officiating decisions.
How the two-point shot changed tactics
The Super Shot rewards accurate long-range shooting and forces coaches to decide when to chase two points instead of a safer one-point attempt. It has raised the value of versatile shooters who are comfortable from distance and made the closing minutes of each quarter far less predictable, since a two-goal gap can be erased with a single long-range conversion.
Awards, records and individual honours
The ANZ Premiership Player of the Year is the league’s most coveted individual prize and is often a pointer to Silver Ferns selection. Recent winners reflect the league’s spread of talent across attacking and midcourt roles.
| Year | ANZ Premiership Player of the Year | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Maddy Gordon | Central Pulse |
| 2024 | Ameliaranne Ekenasio | Waikato BOP Magic |
| 2025 | Elisapeta (Peta) Toeava | Northern Mystics |
On the record books, Grace Nweke’s 852 goals in the 2021 regular season remain the benchmark for a single campaign, and her 70-goal haul in the 2022 Grand Final stands out as a single-match high. These numbers highlight how dominant a tall “holding” shooter could be in the New Zealand game before the 2025 Super Shot rewarded a more varied attacking approach.
Coaching standards and the NNL pathway
The ANZ Premiership is also a proving ground for coaches, who are expected to hold advanced Netball New Zealand accreditation. A key strength of the system is the link between each Premiership franchise and an affiliated team in the National Netball League, which gives training partners a clear route into the elite squad when injuries strike. The connection with the Silver Ferns set-up, led by head coach Dame Noeline Taurua, also keeps fitness and performance standards high.
| ANZ Premiership team | Affiliated NNL team | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Mystics | Northern Marvels | Auckland / Northland |
| Central Pulse | Central Manawa | Wellington / central |
| Mainland Tactix | Mainland Hellers | South Island |
The “fit-for-purpose” standard
Influenced by the Silver Ferns’ high-performance programme, Premiership squads apply demanding fitness benchmarks, including running tests, so that players selected on match day can sustain the league’s fast pace across four quarters. This emphasis on conditioning is one reason the competition is regarded as one of the quickest domestic leagues in world netball.
The 2026 season and the move to free-to-air
The ANZ Premiership entered a new broadcasting era in 2026. Netball New Zealand moved the competition to public broadcaster TVNZ, which won exclusive rights and shows all games on the TVNZ 2 channel and the TVNZ+ streaming service — a return to free-to-air coverage after the sport spent years behind a pay-TV subscription. The deal ended Sky’s long run with the competition, which dated back to the ANZ Championship launch in 2008, and Netball New Zealand now produces the matches itself to widen the league’s reach. For a practical rundown of fixtures and viewing, see our guide to following the ANZ Premiership.
On court, the 2026 season ended with the Northern Mystics’ record fourth title. As rival competitions in Australia and England continue to grow, the ANZ Premiership’s challenge is to keep innovating while protecting the regional identities that give its six franchises their loyal followings. The combination of free-to-air exposure, the Super Shot and a deep talent pathway leaves the league well placed for its second decade.
Sources
- Netball New Zealand — ANZ Premiership returns to TVNZ for 2026
- ANZ Premiership — Rule innovations for the 2025 season
- Northern Mystics — Record fourth title for grand-final-winning Mystics
- Netball Scoop — ANZ Premiership 2025 season wrap
- Netball New Zealand — 2025 New Zealand Netball Awards
- World Netball — ANZ Premiership results and records
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ANZ Premiership?
It is New Zealand’s top-level professional netball league, run by Netball New Zealand and contested by six regional franchises each season. It sits above the National Netball League and is the main domestic pathway to the Silver Ferns.
Which teams play in the ANZ Premiership?
The six teams are the Northern Mystics, Northern Stars, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Central Pulse, Mainland Tactix and Southern Steel, each representing a different region of the country.
Who has won the most ANZ Premiership titles?
The Northern Mystics are the most successful team with four titles (2021, 2023, 2024 and 2026), ahead of the Central Pulse on three. The Southern Steel have two and the Mainland Tactix one.
What is the two-point Super Shot?
Introduced in 2025, it lets a shooter score two points instead of one for goals made from a zone starting 3.5 metres from the post, but only during the final five minutes of each quarter.
Where can I watch the ANZ Premiership?
From the 2026 season the competition is broadcast free-to-air by TVNZ, with games on the TVNZ 2 channel and the TVNZ+ streaming service, replacing the previous Sky coverage.
When is the ANZ Premiership season played?
The season generally runs across the New Zealand winter, with recent seasons starting in May and the finals and Grand Final decided in July.
