There is precedent for NZF moving the final, they played it in Palmerston North when Napier and Wairarapa made the final in 2011
and they moved it to Christchurch in 2013 when Cashmere Tech made the final against Waitakere and Coastal Spirit were in the womens cup final against Glenfield
Coastal Spirit v Glenfield was also 2011 Final (in PN) as well as 2013.
The history of the final being moved around the country goes back to the mid 1970s.
I was at the 1978 final in Nelson as a schoolboy (Nelson United vs. Manurewa)
The 1974 final was played at QE II Stadium, Christchurch (Chch Utd vs. Wellington Diamond Utd)
The 1994 final was played in Napier despite no Hawkes Bay team being in the final (Waitakere vs. Wellington Olympic)
From the Cup's inception in the 1920's to 1994 most finals were played in Wellington (usually at the Basin Reserve, sometimes Newtown Park) just as the FA Cup Final has always been held in London.
Before 1970 the final was played between the winners of the South Island and North Island sections.
1986-88 the final was played home and away over two legs at the two finalists' grounds.
Click on the year in this table for details on every final since 1923:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatham_Cup#Past_win...
Very rare to have such comprehensive stats available on a NZ football tournament.
Nice !!!