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.
Waitakere City have achieved some league distinctions. They won the league/cup double for a consecutive season and became only the third team to win the Chatham Cup three consecutive seasons (1994, 1995 and 1996).
The Jack Batty Memorial Cup is awarded to the player adjudged to have made to most positive impact in the Chatham Cup final. The winner of the 1996 Jack Batty Memorial Cup was Mark Foy of Mount Wellington.