The 2009 Air New Zealand Cup was a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand, which was run as a round-robin tournament from 30 July to 25 October. There were 13 rounds where every team played each other once. The top four teams on the Air New Zealand Cup table advanced to the semi-finals, where they played for a chance in the Grand Final.
Most weeks, one game was played on Thursday at 7:35 pm (NZ Time), two games on Fridays both starting at 7:35 pm, three games on Saturdays at 2:35, 5:30 and 7:35 pm and one game on Sundays at 2:35 pm. Again, this is most common, there were games played at 4:30 or 6:30 pm and more or less games played on certain days, e.g. Thursdays and Saturdays.
Standings
Points table
Ladder Progression
Schedule
|-border="2" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" bgcolor=#ccccff
| width=14% align=center|Round 1
| width=14% align=center|Round 2
| width=14% align=center|Round 3
| width=14% align=center|Round 4
| width=14% align=center|Round 5
| width=14% align=center|Round 6
| width=14% align=center|Round 7
|-align=center
| 30 Jul-2 Aug
| 06-09 Aug
| 13-16 Aug
| 20-23 Aug
| 27-30 Aug
| 03-06 Sept
| 10-13 Sept
|-bgcolor=#ccccff
| width=14% align=center|Round 8
| width=14% align=center|Round 9
| width=14% align=center|Round 10
| width=14% align=center|Round 11
| width=14% align=center|Round 12
| width=14% align=center|Round 13
|-align=center
| 17-20 Sept
| 24-27 Sept
| 01-04 Oct
| 08-11 Oct
| 15-18 Oct
| 22-25 Oct
Round 1
The highlight of round one was the first up Ranfurly Shield challenge when Wellington beat Otago 23–19, Otago had the chance to own the shield for the first time in 52 years. On Saturday, three of the major unions went down to their lesser counterparts; Hawke's Bay recorded its first win over Auckland in Air New Zealand/NPC history and their first win over Auckland since 1974. North Harbour recorded a shock win over defending champions Canterbury in their first game of the season, Michael Harris lead the 22–19 victory recording 17 points. Southland beat Waikato 16–6, their first win over the Mooloo men since 2003.
Round 2
Northland chose to switch their home game to North Harbour Stadium after determining that Okara Park would be unsuitable on account of bad field conditions. When Southland beat Otago 26–19 at Carisbrook, it was the 232nd time these two teams had matched up, the most played provincial rivalry in New Zealand rugby. Tasman's 19–15 victory over North Harbour on 7 August was the first time in their history that they have beaten them.
Round 3
When Northland ran out onto the field at the Kerikeri Domain it was the first time they have played in the province outside of Whangarei since 1976, and the first time Kerikeri have hosted an Air New Zealand/NPC match. Taranaki and Hawke's Bay played in the first drawn match of the season when they matched up 24 a piece at the full-time whistle, it was also refereed for the first time by a referee outside the country with Australian Nathan Pearce taking the officiators duty. On 16 August Tasman and Counties Manukau played against each other for the first time in their history with Tasman winning 51–15.
Round 4
Wellington won their second Ranfurly Shield challenge 16–15 against Auckland on 22 August, with some significant moments, it is now the longest Wellington has held onto the shield since 1953; and Fa'atonu Fili landed his 3rd drop goal of the competition, the most in any Air New Zealand Cup season, it also made Wellington the holder of the most drop goals in a season by a team with 2 being the previous record. When Canterbury beat Tasman 25 to 21, it was the closest that Tasman had come to winning against their Crusader counterparts. Counties Manukau were only team left in the competition without a win but ended that when they recorded a 33–21 win over Taranaki on 23 August.
Round 5
Wellington lost the Ranfurly Shield in Round 5, losing 36–14 to Canterbury on 29 August. When Southland beat North Harbour 24 to 22, it was the first time Southland had beaten North Harbour at their home stadium. Hawke's Bay scored the first penalty try of the season in their 28–26 victory over Tasman on 28 August. Auckland and Bay of Plenty contested for the new trophy, the John Drake Boot, named after John Drake, who died December 2008, Auckland won the trophy by winning 29 points to 14. This was also Bay of Plenty's first loss of the season.