The 1978 season was the third year of the National Provincial Championship (NPC), a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand. Wellington were the winners of Division 1.
Division 1 Relegated to Division Two
Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts1 10802172111+61162 10703167110+57143 10604152144+8124 10604123100+23125 10604129137−8126 10514141122+19117 10424156129+27108 10505114101+13109 10316115164−49710 1021792150−58511 1001968161−931
Results June
July
August
September
Division 2 (North Island) Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts1871016084+76142871020577+128143862011771+461248440128127+1858440101128-2786834188167-79778260108105+3488260106152-4649807185187-1021
Division 2 (South Island) Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts1550012433+9110254107654+228353204941+86452305594-394551405381-282650502781-540
Promotion/Relegation As the bottom-placed North Island team, Hawkes Bay were automatically relegated. The winners of Division Two North, Bay of Plenty, were automatically promoted to Division One.
South Canterbury faced Division Two South winner Marlborough. The match was tied 10–10, which meant South Canterbury remained in Division One.
Ranfurly Shield Manawatu began the season as holders having defeated Auckland in the 1976 season. In 1978, they defended the shield in four matches, extending their tenure to 13 successful defences before being defeated by North Auckland. North Auckland chose not to accept any more challenges in 1978 and thus held the shield for the summer.
Manawatu beat West Coast 51–10 beat Horowhenua 42–14 beat Poverty Bay 24–0 beat Wellington 13–6 lost to North Auckland 10–12
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