▁of ▁clubs ▁in ▁each ▁province ▁var ies ▁from ▁six ▁for ▁the ▁smallest ▁un ions ▁such ▁as ▁West ▁Coast ▁to ▁more ▁than ▁ 3 0 ▁for ▁bigger ▁un ions ▁such ▁as ▁Can ter bury ▁and ▁A uck land . ▁ ▁Level ▁ 1 : ▁Mit re ▁ 1 0 ▁Cup ▁Prem iers hip ▁Division ▁The ▁Mit re ▁ 1 0 ▁Cup , ▁renamed ▁from ▁the ▁IT M ▁Cup ▁after ▁a ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁spons or ship ▁change , ▁is ▁fully ▁professional ▁and ▁the ▁competition ▁usually ▁runs ▁from ▁late ▁July ▁or ▁early ▁August ▁to ▁late ▁October . ▁From ▁ 2 0 0 6 , ▁when ▁the ▁Mit re ▁ 1 0 ▁Cup ▁replaced ▁N PC ▁division ▁one , ▁through ▁to ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁the ▁competition ▁contained ▁ 1 4 ▁teams ▁in ▁a ▁nation wide ▁tournament . ▁Starting ▁with ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁season , ▁the ▁Mit re ▁ 1 0 ▁Cup ▁was ▁split ▁into ▁two ▁divisions , ▁each ▁with ▁seven ▁teams — the ▁top - level ▁Prem iers hip ▁and ▁second - level ▁Championship . ▁Each ▁division ▁remains ▁a ▁nation wide ▁tournament . ▁With ▁the ▁split ▁into ▁two ▁divisions , ▁promotion ▁and ▁re leg ation ▁was ▁re int rodu ced ▁into ▁the ▁top ▁level ; ▁the ▁bottom ▁side ▁in ▁the ▁Prem iers hip ▁is ▁re leg ated ▁to ▁the ▁Championship ▁and ▁replaced ▁by ▁that ▁division ' s ▁champion . ▁ ▁The ▁current ▁Mit re ▁ 1 0 ▁Cup ▁Prem iers hip ▁teams , ▁as ▁of ▁the ▁ 2