Auckland got on top early, Northland forced their way into the contest well before halftime and the second half see-sawed with Northland's Jess MacAlister squandering a glorious late chance in front of an open goal, just unable to reach a ball driven in from the left.
Much of Northland's best attacking work came through international Stacey Michelsen, who was named most valuable player of the league.
It wasn't the title Michelsen was hoping for, having helped carry a team unfancied by most pundits to progress to the decider, and while she was hugely disappointed at the outcome was delighted Northland had proved the naysayers wrong.
Auckland prospered through a strong attacking line, in which internationals Forgesson, Charlotte and Sam Harrison provided 16 of their 22 goals in the league.
"The key was going out to be a champion team, rather than a team of champions," Auckland captain Jan Rowsell said after clinching the province's first K Cup title since 2011.
"We had a group of players who were fantastic all over the pitch and stayed together when the pressure went on."
Rowsell doesn't expect to be around next year. Forgesson, having retired from international hockey this week, is undecided. In which case it could prove an ideal sendoff for what Rowsell quipped were a couple of the "grandmas" in the team.
The women were lucky yesterday. They got their final completed before the driving rain and wind set in.
Auckland were quickly out of the blocks, with the elements at their backs, and goals by Marcus Child and Veeran Morar inside the first seven minutes had them in charge from the start.
Midlands had impressed throughout the league, but with pools of water settling on the pitch, it was tough going to make up lost ground.
When Jared Panchia scored his seventh goal of the tournament the die was cast.
Midlands did have a couple of late chances, and the league's MVP winner, Australian midfielder Tim Deavin, was a driving influence, but Auckland were well worth the win.
"Conditions were tough which made it a little more difficult," Auckland skipper Arun Panchia said. "But we started well and knew if we played to our potential we would be able to have a good performance."
Canterbury, disappointing through the week, belted Southern 4-0 to finish third, while Central's 6-1 win over Northland ensured they would avoid the wooden spoon.
Defending women's champions Midlands, beaten 3-2 by Auckland in the semifinals on Saturday, had some satisfaction, winning the third-fourth decider 2-0 against Canterbury.
Auckland also won the inaugural Ramesh Patel Shield for New Zealand's best performing region across all three men's and women's Hockey New Zealand high performance tournaments (Under 18, Under 21, and NHL).
Final standings:
Men: Auckland 1, Midlands 2, Canterbury 3, Southern 4, North Harbour 5, Capital 6, Central 7, Northland 8.
Women: Auckland 1, Northland 2, Midlands 3, Canterbury 4, Central 5, Southern 6, North Harbour 7, Capital 8.
