Based on England's FA Cup, the knock-out competition was won by an Otago side in the inaugural year when Seacliff beat Wellington YMCA 4-0.
In recent times, Dunedin City won the cup in 1981 by beating Mount Wellington 3-1, after having also reached the final in 1980.
There was a considerable wait until 1999 when Roger Brooks' Dunedin Technical side beat Waitakere with a resounding 4-nil result to again bring the cup back South.
Cup medals are treasured prizes, but another trophy is also presented to the player who makes the most positive impact in the final.
Aaron Burgess earned the Jack Batty Memorial award for his performance against Waitakere, and in particular for a well-taken goal described thus by Jeremy Rouane.
"The goal came out of nothing, but the striker's exquisite finish - a volleyed lob over Plunkett into the far corner of the net from some 15 yards on the angle - was worth the admission price in itself. It was a little gem with which to round off the scoring."
Other scorers that day were Graham Marshal, Jason Tee and Justin Flaws. Nine years after that cup final, Burgess is still banging in goals for Technical, after having had several years away playing in Australia.
The Invercargill-born striker might have lost the razor-sharp pace he once had, but his craft has still made him the Soccersouth Premier League's leading striker with 14 goals in six matches.
Today, Burgess will again strut his stuff in Chatham Cup when Technical plays the Timaru side Northern Hearts at the Caledonian Ground.
All cup games kick off at 2pm.
The return of Michael Cunningham from overseas and Sam Jasper from illness can only strengthen Technical's squad against the Hearts side which plays in a local Timaru league.
Other potential giant-killers are the Old Boys side from Invercargill which plays Caversham at Tonga Park, and Grants Braes, which has home advantage on Ocean Grove for its tie with Roslyn-Wakari.
However, the cup tie likely to produce most sparks will be played at the Gardens ground, where SPL sides Northern and University will lock horns.
The Gardens `slope' and a surface resembling lumpy corduroy more than slick velvet, with remnants of a cricket wicket lurking under the surface, will be demanding for any team trying to play clever football.
University's season has foundered on a short passing game that has not yet paid off for coach James Vaughan.
But if centreback Liam McKinley can control a tight defensive shape, and Sam Green uses his undoubted pace, perhaps goal-scoring chances will appear for Kareem Osman and Vaughan.
On its home ground, Northern can be a handful.
Despite losing star striker Phil Dawson, Simon Collins has shown an eye for goal, as has Jason Burgess.
Similar to Varsity, the Magpies also have a strong centreback in Dan Benson whose heading ability is useful in attack as well as defence.
If the game goes to extra time or penalties, spectators would be well advised to bring a torch or two for illumination in the dusk.
