The National Provincial Championship, or NPC, was the predecessor to the current Air New Zealand Cup and Heartland Championship in New Zealand rugby. 1979 was the fourth year of the National Provincial Championship, Counties were the winners of Division 1.
Division 1 Standings
| Relegated to Division Two |
These were the NPC Division 1 standings for the 1979 season.
| Team | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Counties |
10 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 158 | 84 | +74 | 18 |
| 2 |  Auckland |
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 175 | 88 | +87 | 16 |
| 3 |  Wellington |
10 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 176 | 116 | +60 | 16 |
| 4 |  Canterbury |
10 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 146 | 115 | +31 | 14 |
| 5 |  North Auckland |
10 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 116 | 99 | +17 | 12 |
| 6 |  Bay of Plenty |
10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 158 | 148 | +10 | 11 |
| 7 |  Manawatu |
10 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 121 | 106 | +15 | 9 |
| 8 |  Taranaki |
10 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 120 | 140 | −20 | 6 |
| 9 |  Southland |
10 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 106 | 169 | −63 | 4 |
| 10 |  South Canterbury |
10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 81 | 212 | −131 | 2 |
| 11 |  Otago |
10 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 88 | 168 | −80 | 2 |
Table notes
- Pld = Played
- W = Win
- D = Draw
- L = Loss
- PF = For (Total points scored)
- PA = Against (Total points scored against)
- PD = Points difference
Promotion/Relegation
As the bottom placed North Island team, Taranaki were automatically relegated.
Division Two North winner Hawkes Bay were promoted to Division One.
Otago faced Division Two South winner Marlborough, defeating them 15-13, and remained in Division One.
Division Two Teams
Division 2 North (In Order of Final Placing)
Hawke's Bay
Waikato
Poverty Bay
Wanganui
Horowhenua
Thames Valley
King Country
Wairarapa Bush
East Coast
Division 2 South (In Order of Final Placing)
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Ranfurly Shield
North Auckland began the season as holders having defeated Manawatu the season before. They defended the Shield in 5 matches before being defeated by Auckland. Auckland then successfully defended against Counties in the final match of the season that pitted the Shield holders against the National Champions.
North Auckland
- beat King Country 21-6
- beat Thames Valley 35-6
- beat Marlborough 29-6
- beat South Canterbury 20-12
- beat Taranaki 23-11
- lost to Auckland 3-9
Auckland
- beat Counties 11-9