New Zealand has had a domestic first-class cricket

First-class cricket

First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...

 championship since the 1906–07 season. It is currently known as the Plunket Shield, reintroducing the name used in the early stages for the 2009–10 season.

Plunket Shield

The competition was instigated in 1906 with the donation of a shield by William Plunket, 5th Baron Plunket, the Governor-General of New Zealand

Governor-General of New Zealand

The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....

. In its early years, the competition was decided by a series of challenge matches between five provincial Cricket Association sides, Auckland, Wellington, Canterbury, Otago and, on just two occasions, Hawke's Bay. The first winner was Canterbury. From the 1921–22 season, these sides (minus Hawke's Bay, which lost first-class status) played each other in a single round-robin series of matches. Two other teams, Central Districts and Northern Districts, entered in the 1950s.

Shell Trophy

Shell Oil became principal sponsor in 1974–75 and a new trophy was introduced. Games were played over three days during this period, with an over-limit on the first innings. In latter years the format was experimented with, introducing a shorter second round, various bonus points systems, and eventually a knockout final.

State Championship

The format and the principal sponsor were changed in 2001–02 season. State Insurance (more commonly just called 'State') replaced Shell Oil. The competitions were renamed to reflect the new sponsor's name, so despite the fact that New Zealand does not have political 'states', the correct name for the first class cricket competition was the 'State Championship'.

Between November and early April, each of the provincial teams play in a one round round-robin series of 4-day matches against every other team. With a target of 112 overs (6.5 hours) daily play, games are only marginally shorter than a typical test match (90 overs/day). Points are awarded based on the results of the matches, and after each team has played each other once, the two highest ranked teams play a 5-day final, in early April.

A limited 50 over competition known as the State Shield was run from late December to the end of January, culminating with a semifinal (2v3) and final (the semifinal winner against the top qualifier) early in February.

In 2006, a provincial Twenty20 competition was begun, and was played over one month during February and into early March each year. The top two sides qualified for that final. It was called the State Twenty20.

Plunket Shield reinstated

With State Insurance withdrawing from their sponsorship, the Plunket Shield was reinstated for the 2009–10 season. New Zealand Cricket has stated that the naming rights are no longer for sale and that the name Plunket Shield will remain. The final has also been abolished, meaning that the champion of the competition will be determined by the points leader at the end of the double round robin.

Teams

TEAM	Entered Competition	Most Recent Win	Wins (counted since 1921–22 season)
Auckland Aces Auckland Aces The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...  (Auckland Auckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... )	1906–07	2008-09	22
Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...  (Wellington Wellington Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range... )	1906–07	2003-04	20
Canterbury Wizards Canterbury Wizards The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...  (Canterbury Canterbury, New Zealand The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-... )	1906–07	2010-11	16
Otago Volts Otago Volts The Otago Volts are a first class cricket team representing the Otago Cricket Association, one of six major associations that make up New Zealand Cricket....  (Otago Otago Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is... /Southland)	1906–07	1987-88	13
Central Districts Stags Central Districts Stags The Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...  (Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay is a region of New Zealand. Hawke's Bay is recognised on the world stage for its award-winning wines. The regional council sits in both the cities of Napier and Hastings.-Geography:... /Taranaki/Manawatu/Nelson Nelson, New Zealand Nelson is a city on the eastern shores of Tasman Bay, and is the economic and cultural centre of the Nelson-Tasman region. Established in 1841, it is the second oldest settled city in New Zealand and the oldest in the South Island.... /Marlborough Marlborough, New Zealand Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district, and its council is located at Blenheim. Marlborough is known for its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and sauvignon blanc... )	1950–51	2005-06	8
Northern Districts Knights Northern Districts Knights The Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are one of six New Zealand first class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand...  (Northland/Bay of Plenty Bay of Plenty The Bay of Plenty , often abbreviated to BOP, is a region in the North Island of New Zealand situated around the body of water of the same name... /Waikato/Gisborne Gisborne, New Zealand -Economy:The harbour was host to many ships in the past and had developed as a river port to provide a more secure location for shipping compared with the open roadstead of Poverty Bay which can be exposed to southerly swells. A meat works was sited beside the harbour and meat and wool was shipped... )	1956–57	2009-10	7

Points system

Points are awarded at the conclusion of each match during the season. With no final, the team with the most points is declared the champion. The points system for the 2011/12 season is as follows

• Won: 12 points
• Lost: 0 points
• Draw: 0 points
• Tie: 6 points
• One-Innings Match Won (match that started with 10 hours or less playing time remaining): 6 points
• One-Innings Match Tie: 3 points
• Abandoned (without a ball bowled) / No Result (drawn one-innings match): 2 points
• Batting Points: First Innings only up to 110 overs - first point at 250 runs, second point at 300 runs, third point at 350 runs, fourth point at 400 runs
• Bowling Points: First Innings only up to 110 overs - first point at 3 wickets, second point at 5 wickets, third point at 7 wickets, fourth point at 9 wickets

Winners

The early winners of the competition during its "challenge match" period to 1921–22 were:

• 1906–07 – Canterbury
• 1907–08 – Canterbury
• 1908–09 – Auckland
• 1909–10 – Auckland
• 1910–11 – Canterbury
• 1911–12 – Auckland
• 1912–13 – Canterbury
• 1913–14 – Canterbury
• 1914–15 – Canterbury
• 1915–18 – no competition due to World War I
  World War I
  World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
  
  
• 1918–19 – Wellington (Dec 1918 to Jan 1919) and Canterbury (from Jan 1919)
• 1919–20 – Auckland
• 1920–21 – Wellington

  Season	WINNER	RUNNER–UP
  1921–22	Auckland
  1922–23	Canterbury
  1923–24	Wellington
  1924–25	Otago
  1925–26	Wellington
  1926–27	Auckland
  1927–28	Wellington
  1928–29	Auckland
  1929–30	Wellington
  1930–31	Canterbury
  1931–32	Wellington
  1932–33	Otago
  1933–34	Auckland
  1934–35	Canterbury
  1935–36	Wellington
  1936–37	Auckland
  1937–38	Auckland
  1938–39	Auckland
  1939–40	Auckland
  1940–45	(not contested due to World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... )
  1945–46	Canterbury
  1946–47	Auckland
  1947–48	Otago
  1948–49	Canterbury
  1949–50	Wellington
  1950–51	Otago
  1951–52	Canterbury
  1952–53	Otago
  1953–54	Central Districts
  1954–55	Wellington
  1955–56	Canterbury
  1956–57	Wellington
  1957–58	Otago
  1958–59	Auckland
  1959–60	Canterbury
  1960–61	Wellington
  1961–62	Wellington
  1962–63	Northern Districts
  1963–64	Auckland
  1964–65	Canterbury
  1965–66	Wellington
  1966–67	Central Districts
  1967–68	Central Districts
  1968–69	Auckland
  1969–70	Otago
  1970–71	Central Districts
  1971–72	Otago
  1972–73	Wellington
  1973–74	Wellington
  1974–75	Otago
  1975–76	Canterbury
  1976–77	Otago
  1977–78	Auckland
  1978–79	Otago
  1979–80	Northern Districts
  1980–81	Auckland
  1981–82	Wellington
  1982–83	Wellington
  1983–84	Canterbury
  1984–85	Wellington
  1985–86	Otago
  1986–87	Central Districts
  1987–88	Otago
  1988–89	Auckland
  1989–90	Wellington
  1990–91	Auckland	Canterbury
  1991–92	Central Districts & Northern Districts
  1992–93	Northern Districts	Otago
  1993–94	Canterbury	Auckland
  1994–95	Auckland	Wellington
  1995–96	Auckland	Wellington
  1996–97	Canterbury	Otago
  1997–98	Canterbury	Northern Districts
  1998–99	Central Districts Stags Central Districts Stags The Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...	Otago Volts Otago Volts The Otago Volts are a first class cricket team representing the Otago Cricket Association, one of six major associations that make up New Zealand Cricket....
  1999–00	Northern Districts Knights Northern Districts Knights The Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are one of six New Zealand first class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand...	Auckland Aces Auckland Aces The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...
  2000–01	Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...	Northern Districts Knights Northern Districts Knights The Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are one of six New Zealand first class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand...
  2001–02	Auckland Aces Auckland Aces The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...	Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...
  2002–03	Auckland Aces Auckland Aces The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...	Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...
  2003–04	Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...	Canterbury Wizards Canterbury Wizards The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...
  2004–05	Auckland Aces Auckland Aces The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...	Central Districts Stags Central Districts Stags The Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...
  2005–06	Central Districts Stags Central Districts Stags The Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...	Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...
  2006–07	Northern Districts Knights Northern Districts Knights The Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are one of six New Zealand first class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand...	Canterbury Wizards Canterbury Wizards The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...
  2007–08	Canterbury Wizards Canterbury Wizards The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...	Wellington Firebirds Wellington Firebirds The Wellington Firebirds are one of six New Zealand first-class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in Wellington. It competes in the State Championship first class competition, the State Shield domestic one day competition and the State Twenty20 Cricket Tournament.The...
  2008–09	Auckland Aces Auckland Aces The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...	Central Districts Stags Central Districts Stags The Central Districts Stags are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in central New Zealand. It competes in the State Championship first class competition and the State Shield domestic one day competition...
  2009–10	Northern Districts Knights Northern Districts Knights The Yahoo!Xtra Northern Knights are one of six New Zealand first class cricket teams that make up New Zealand Cricket.It is based in the northern half of the North Island of New Zealand...	Canterbury Wizards Canterbury Wizards The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...
  2010–11	Canterbury Wizards Canterbury Wizards The Canterbury Wizards are a New Zealand first class cricket team based in Canterbury, New Zealand. It is one of six teams that make up New Zealand Cricket and has been the most successful domestic team in New Zealand history...	Otago Volts Otago Volts The Otago Volts are a first class cricket team representing the Otago Cricket Association, one of six major associations that make up New Zealand Cricket....