Being from Waikato/AKL and having studied and traveled around NZ as well as living with Southerners here in the UK, I have noticed that recognition of football is only really prevalent in places like CHCH, Welli, Palmy, Hamilton, Tauranga/the Mount and Auckland.
Dunedin and the south in particular is abit of a football tragidy, being very rugby headed down there where you live my friend.
Supporter of the world's best football teams: Waikato..., Kingz FC, NZ Knights, The Nix, The Argyle & of course the All Whites