The competition becomes an open draw from the semi-final stage with teams being required to travel, at their cost, throughout New Zealand.

The second year of the competition saw Waikato Unicol make the final again but this time winning the competition, before the start of the Northern Region dominance at the expense of Lower Hutt club Petone who in four consecutive finals from 1995 to 1998 finished runners-up.

[2] In 2021, the Kate Sheppard Cup saw a record number of 57 teams enter, increasing by 40% from the previous edition.

[8] [1][7][9] A Maia Jackman Trophy is presented annually to the player adjudged to have made the most positive impact in the Kate Sheppard final.

In September 2023, New Zealand signed a deal to have selected Kate Sheppard Cup games streamed for free on FIFA+ worldwide.