The 1997 National Summer Soccer League was the second season of a short-lived nationwide association football club competition in New Zealand.
Despite being known as the 1997 league, competition started in November 1996, with the later rounds and final playoffs held in 1997.
The league was an invitation-only competition, with no promotion or relegation taking place.
Matches took place between November 1996 and April 1997, with a three-week break from late December to mid-January.
The top four teams from this stage progressed to a play-off series.