[4] Over the course of the season, each team must also ensure players aged 20 or under account for 10% of available playing minutes.
[6] It is both Auckland FC Reserves's and Fencibles United's first season in the National League.
They replaced Melville United and Hamilton Wanderers (both relegated after a four-year Northern League spell).
[30] This is their first season in the Central League, since New Zealand football's restructuring in 2021.
They replaced FC Twenty 11 (relegated after their second season in the Southern League).