The 1980 season was the fifth year of the National Provincial Championship (NPC), a provincial rugby union competition in New Zealand. Manawatu were the winners of Division 1.
The following table gives the final standings:
Division Two North winner defeated South Island division two winner 22 points to 9. This gave Waikato the chance to play the bottom first division side, South Canterbury, for a place in the first division in 1981. Waikato defeated South Canterbury 22âÂÂ13 and were promoted to Division One.