Moana Pasifika's short-lived time in Super Rugby Pacific is set to finish at season's end in June, the Auckland owners citing the burden of costs through lacklustre sponsorship interest for calling it quits.

After five seasons in rugby union's top competition, the franchise owners released a statement on Wednesday that they had "made the difficult and heartbreaking decision to disband".

The statement added the franchise would "provide support to all players and staff" for the remainder of its outgoing season.

The demise of the Polynesian side, which is based around players of the Samoan and Tongan diasporas living in Aotearoa/New Zealand, will almost certainly reduce Super Rugby Pacific down to just 10 teams next year.

The competition, which was created in 1996, resumed following interruptions over the COVID-19 pandemic without its former South African and Argentine teams and was rebranded under the Pacific banner with the Fijian Drua joining Moana Pasifika in 2022.

It is the second time a Super Rugby team was forced to financially step aside after initially Rugby Australia withdrew its support for the Melbourne Rebels at the end of the 2024 season.

Concerns grew around Moana Pasifika's future during the offseason when the financial instability of majority-share owners, Pasifika Medical Association, first surfaced publicly.

New Zealand Rugby had set up Moana Pasifika with guidance from World Rugby. The aspirations of the franchise were to permanently play its home fixtures out of both Samoa and Tonga.

But the franchise struggled to financially honour a pledge to host even single matches in front of its home Pasifika fans, doing so only once in Samoa in 2023 and once in Tonga in 2024.

More planned Super Rugby fixtures have been cancelled in the past two seasons over the cost to bring two professional sides to the Pacific region.

Moana Pasifika has also been forced to relocate home games to North Harbour Stadium at one end of Auckland from Mt Smart Stadium - the home of the NRL Warriors - at the other end of Aoearoa / New Zealand's largest city, in addition to playing occasionally in Rotorua, the heart of Māori culture.

"This is one of the hardest decisions we're ever made," Moana Pasifika chair Kiki Maoate said.

"We are immensely proud of our players, staff, and the community, who have supported our team over the years.

"Across our rugby, pathways and community programs, we have been able to support a growing hub of Pacific talent across multiple sporting codes, both locally and in the Pacific region. This is something we are extremely proud of and will continue to support and advocate for, as best we can.

"Our commitment now is to ensure a smooth transition for everyone affected and to celebrate our legacy by finishing the season strong."

The shock announcement coincided with the return of the First Nations/Pasifika side to the field at the annual Hong Kong 10s tournament for the first time.

The cultural lineup to boost opportunities for Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islanders, Polynesian and Melanesian players was a new but separate Rugby Australia initiative last year amid a historic encounter against the British & Irish Lions in Adelaide leading into their Test series against the Wallabies.

Moana Pasifika has continued to struggle on the ground, currently sitting in last place on the Super Rugby Pacific table with just a single win from its eight matches this year.

The concept of Moana Pasifika was first created in 2020 following the prevention of overseas travel where an exhibition match was held between Polynesian players in New Zealand who took on the Maori All Blacks before 12 months later a new franchise was given the nod to join the 2022 Super Rugby competition.

Despite its failure to sustain longevity, Maoate saluted the significant contribution of the people that were behind Moana Pasifika's very existence.

"We acknowledge our loyal fans for standing by us through the highs and lows - your support has meant everything to us, especially our players," he said.

"We ask that you stand by your team today. Our story has been one of resilience - not just as a franchise, but as Pacific people.

"While this will be devastating news to process, we continue to look ahead and navigate these next steps together, just as our people always have."

New Zealand Rugby confirmed while it was disappointed with the outcome of the franchise, it is willing to work with other commercial partners should they come forward to finance the survival of Moana Pasifika.

Operating costs for new owners have been estimated to be around $7 million a year. In contrast, Papua New Guinea will operate an NRL side in 2028 courtesy of the $600 million grant from the Australian government.

"New Zealand Rugby acknowledges Moana Pasifika board's decision that it is no longer viable for the club to continue beyond the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season," New Zealand Rugby said.

"Our immediate thoughts are with the players and their families, management and fans.

"Moana Pasifika has confirmed to New Zealand Rugby that it will continue to compete through to the conclusion of the current season. We know that they will give everything on the field to continue to inspire their communities.

"New Zealand Rugby remains supportive of Moana Pasifika's vision to create pathways from the Pacific and is saddened by the challenges the club faces.

"We are aware there may be parties exploring financially viable and sustainable plans for the future of the team.

New Zealand Rugby said it is open to engaging with those parties to discuss the club's continued participation in Super Rugby Pacific."

The disbandment of the franchise follows the high of All Blacks great Ardie Savea joining Moana Pasifika for the 2025 season under coach Tana Umaga, another Polynesian icon to represent New Zealand.