Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic featured franchises for the first time, with the overall aim of increasing the public profile of the sport in New Zealand. The inaugural competition was contested between ten teams, including the Waikato Wildcats and the Bay of Plenty Magic. At the end of the first season both teams finished at the bottom of the ladder, with the Wildcats 9th and the Bay of Plenty Magic last. Both teams decided to merge for the 1999 season: a new franchise was developed adopting the team name from Bay of Plenty and the colours of Waikato, becoming the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic. Bay
Radio Bay of Plenty band music and "beautiful music". One Double X became a major source of information for Bay of Plenty residents during the 1987 Edgecumbe earthquake. Local newsreader Chris Bullen provided an initial report on 2 March that "a series of what the D.S.I.R. describes as major earthquakes have hit the Eastern Bay of Plenty this afternoon". The station was taken off-air for 30 to 40 minutes due to a landline disconnection, but a radio link allowed the station to get back on air. Announcer Cliff Stockwell and newsreader Chris Bullen hosted around-the-clock coverage, while outdoor broadcast equipment allowed staff to provide