Auckland won the National Provincial Competition by defeating Canterbury 44-8 while Waikato ended the season holding the Rugby League Cup.
New Zealand were coached by Frank Endacott and included; captain Matthew Ridge, Sean Hoppe, Richard Blackmore, Ruben Wiki, Richie Barnett, Robbie Paul, Stacey Jones, John Lomax, Henry Paul, Quentin Pongia, Jarrod McCracken, Tony Iro, Logan Swann, Nigel Vagana, Terry Hermansson, Kevin Iro, Syd Eru, Stephen Kearney, Gene Ngamu, Tony Puletua, Nathan Cayless and Joe Vagana.
New Zealand were coached by Frank Endacott and included; Richie Barnett, Nathan Cayless, Syd Eru, Daryl Halligan, Sean Hoppe, Kevin and Tony Iro, Stacey Jones, Stephen Kearney, Jarrod McCracken, Henry and Robbie Paul, captain Quentin Pongia, Tony Puletua, Craig Smith, Logan Swann, Joe Vagana and Ruben Wiki.
During the National Rugby League playoffs two trial matches were held, with the Auckland Warriors playing the New Zealand Residents.
The New Zealand Māori team, excited by the news that they would participate in the 2000 World Cup, toured both the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Included in the squads were Frank Watene, Brian Jellick, Dallas Mead, Boycie Nelson, Jason Williams, Chris Nahi, Phil Bergman, Kyle Leuluai, Artie Shead and Tawera Nikau.
Included in this squad was Hare Te Rangi, Jellick, Odell Manuel, Nelson, Paul Rauhihi, Watene and Jonathan Smith.
[4] Having already defended the trophy three times, Waikato did not put the Rugby League Cup on the line when they hosted Auckland in the National Provincial Competition.
[5] Waikato were coached by Bill Kells and featured Tama Hohaia, captain Tukere Barlow and Wairangi Koopu.
Canterbury were coached by Gerard Stokes and featured Aaron Whittaker, Paul Koloi, Brent Stuart, Jason Palmada, David Vaealiki, Shane Beyers, Phil Bergman.
Northland were coached by Phil Marsh and included Haemish Reid and Anthony Clyde who had previously played reserve grade for the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs and Auckland Warriors respectively.
Despite this, and Hawke's Bay's Lion Red Cup experience, the Tasman Orcas, who were only formed in 1997, won the pool by defeating Manawatu in the final match.
To celebrate the 150 years since the European settlement of Otago a combined Otago-Southland side played a New Zealand Army team and defeated them 54–6 in Dunedin.
The Auckland Warriors reserve team played in a series of matches against New Zealand Provincial sides, winning most of them by large margins.
The Bears were coached by Del Hughes and included Duane Mann, Cliff Beverley, Brian Jellick, Boycie Nelson, Steve Buckingham and Ben Lythe in their side.
Mangere East were coached by Joe Gwynne and included Tama Hohaia, Dean Clark, Tukere Barlow, Anthony Seuseu, Des Maea and Esau Mann.
[5][17] The Upper Hutt Tigers defeated Petone 24–20 in the Wellington Grand Final, winning the Appleton Shield for the second consecutive year.
[25] The Marist Saints won the West Coast League in their 75th season, defeating minor premiers, the Waro-rakau Hornets, 23–12 in the Grand Final.