Netball New Zealand has announced a six-team, 15-round domestic competition will be staged from next year as Australian sides prepare to break away from the transtasman ANZ Championship.
An announcement about the future of the championship, which has been running since 2008, is expected later today.
In the meantime, details of the new New Zealand league have been announced, with the five current New Zealand teams to be joined by another team based in the greater Auckland area.
Teams will play 15 round-robin games and matches will be staged predominantly in the family-friendly Sunday afternoon time slot, Netball New Zealand said in a statement.
Monday night netball will return and there will also be a new Wednesday night time slot.
Details about the location and name of the second Auckland-based team will be announced at a later date, the statement said.
"This is an exciting opportunity to have a second team in the greater Auckland area," Netball Northern chairperson Dianne McAteer said.
"We all recognise the size of the current player base in the region and the potential to increase Netball in New Zealand's fastest growing market."
