It is a New Zealand top-tier competition during the winter season, and sits at step two overall under the summer National League.

[2] In March 2021, New Zealand Football announced a change to the structure of both the premiership and the top regional leagues around the country.

All teams that qualify plus the Phoenix Reserves, would then play a single round-robin competition between September and December.

At the conclusion of the season the winner are crowned champions and with the next two sides proceed to the National League.

[5] They were replaced by Wellington United who had originally missed out on promotion to Havelock North Wanderers.