The competition currently runs between March and August each year, and consists of ten team based in Christchurch.

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.

FC Twenty 11 won the inaugural season of CPL, then played Southern Football's runners-up Roslyn-Wakari in the Southern League playoffs, as Dunedin City Royals reserve team won the league and were ineligible for promotion.

They then faced Southern Football's runners-up Roslyn-Wakari, as Mosgiel declined participation in the playoffs.

They then faced Southern Football's runners-up Wanaka, as Mosgiel declined participation in the playoffs.