[1] New Zealand Cricket established the Shell Conference in 1997 in response to two problems.
First, the Shell Trophy (also known as the Plunket Shield), the first-class competition contested by the six major association teams, was becoming expensive to run in its double round robin format.
In 2000–01 the Plunket Shield resumed its place as New Zealand’s only first-class competition, returning to its double round robin format.
Southern Conference played eight first-class matches, winning four, drawing three and losing one.
As Northern Conference had finished in first place after the round robin, they were declared the winners of the competition.