The 6 teams of the New Zealand League: South Division. We've got teams from Manawatu (based in Palmerston North), Hawkes Bay (based in Napier), Wellington, Tasman (based in Nelson), Canterbury (based in Christchurch), and Otago (based in Dunedin).
Palmerston North doesn’t scream Scandinavia -- until you start looking. There’s something in the surnames, the cheekbones, the quiet stubbornness. Turns out a wave of Nordic settlers once came inland and never left. The
Vikings name isn’t branding -- it’s ancestry. The team plays like they’re channelling Valhalla. Big swings, big beards, and defence like a longship wall.
Welcome to hitter's country. Leave a fastball hanging over the middle and you'll never see it again.
Wellington’s wired tight. All caffeine, crosswinds, and clever people in loud coats. The Bees fit right in -- small, fast, relentless. They don’t overpower you; they
outthink you, then outrun you, then steal home while you’re still checking the signs.
Their name nods to the Beehive up the hill, but also to the way they play: buzzing defence, constant motion, and the kind of coordination that only looks chaotic from the outside. Swarm early, sting late, disappear into the night with a one-run win and no explanation.
At the top of the South Island lies Tasman: golden beaches, clear air, and the sort of sunsets that make you forgive your childhood enemies. The Suns are a reflection of that -- warm, dazzling, and sneakily dangerous.
The Knights are pure Canterbury: structured, loyal, and obsessed with tradition. These boys bleed red and black (they should probably seek some medical attention for that). The team’s name evokes chivalry, but don’t expect politeness on the field. This is trench-warfare baseball, powered by spreadsheets, grass stains, and regional pride so thick it should be rationed.
Penguins waddle down the Otago Peninsula like tiny, angry gods. So when Otago picked a mascot, they didn’t choose something fierce. They chose something tougher. The games in Dunedin are cold, so bring a blanket and puffer jacket anytime you make it to a game. Penguins may not fly, but they'll slide and scrap their way through to survial.