, ▁the ▁latter ▁split ▁into ▁North ▁Island ▁and ▁South ▁Island ▁sub - div isions . ▁The ▁title ▁was ▁awarded ▁to ▁the ▁top - pla ced ▁team ▁on ▁each ▁division ' s ▁competition ▁lad der ▁at ▁the ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁season . ▁After ▁ten ▁games ▁in ▁all , ▁Bay ▁of ▁Pl enty ▁were ▁crown ed ▁the ▁w inners , ▁on ▁ 1 8 ▁September ▁ 1 9 7 6 . ▁Tar an aki ▁remained ▁un be aten ▁and ▁gained ▁promotion ▁to ▁Division ▁One ▁after ▁finishing ▁first ▁in ▁Division ▁Two . ▁ ▁Teams ▁ ▁Past ▁N PC ▁w inners ▁ ▁Note : ▁From ▁ 1 9 7 6 ▁to ▁ 1 9 8 4 ▁there ▁was ▁no ▁third ▁division , ▁and ▁also ▁the ▁second ▁division ▁was ▁divided ▁into ▁North ▁and ▁South ▁Island ▁compet itions . ▁From ▁ 1 9 8 5 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁there ▁were ▁three ▁divisions , ▁all ▁organ ised ▁on ▁a ▁nation wide ▁basis . ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁on ward ▁there ▁are ▁ 2 ▁divisions ▁of ▁the ▁National ▁Championship , ▁the ▁IT M ▁Cup ▁( A ir ▁New ▁Zealand ▁Cup ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 6 ▁through ▁ 2 0 0 9 ) ▁and ▁Heart land ▁Championship . ▁From ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁on wards , ▁the ▁top ▁Division ▁was ▁split ▁into ▁ 2 ▁t iers , ▁based ▁on ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 0 ▁Table ▁after ▁Round ▁Robin ▁play . ▁Teams ▁ 1 – 7 ▁were ▁assigned ▁to ▁the ▁Prem iers hip ▁and