The 1996 Chatham Cup was the 69th annual nationwide knockout football competition in New Zealand. Up to the last 16 of the competition, the cup was run in three regions (northern, central, and southern), with an open draw from the quarter-finals on. National League teams received a bye until the fourth round (last 32). In all, 127 teams took part in the competition, which consisted of a preliminary round and five rounds proper before quarter-finals, semi-finals, and a final.