1978 National Provincial Championship

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.

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.

Division Two Teams
Division 2 North (in order of final placing)

Division 2 South (in order of final placing)

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