The All Blacks will play Wales in November as part of a five-match tour to Britain and Europe.
The New Zealand and Welsh rugby unions have confirmed the match will be at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on November 7, forming part of 10th anniversary celebrations of the stadium's opening.
The All Blacks will follow the Wales match with tests against Italy in Milan on November 14, England at Twickenham on November 21, France in Marseilles seven days later and a match against the Barbarians in London the following week.
New Zealand beat Wales 29-9 when the teams last met at Cardiff last November.
Meanwhile, Piri Weepu has been anointed New Zealand's best impact player, a status that will see him ride the pine in All Blacks rugby tests for the foreseeable future.
On return from injury, Brendon Leonard leapfrogged Weepu into the starting halfback role for Saturday's Test against Italy here, with Jimmy Cowan dropped from the 22.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry said Weepu had been promoted to start as he is now regarded as "a really good bench player", something he had accepted last year when team management discussed his best role.
The 25-year-old started in just one of his nine Tests last year and the trend has continued in 2009, with introductions early in the second spell of the two Tests against France.
"I don't want to sound negative about that but he makes a huge difference coming off and playing the last 30," Henry said after naming his Test team yesterday.
"He did it for us last year, he was usually our halfback substitute and he's doing it again this year."
Henry said Weepu's strength was his ability to analyse games, identify where changes can best be made and then carrying it out late in the closing stages.
"He's got a good head for the game and he's helping us immensely with our tactical approach.
"It was the same with the Hurricanes (in this year's Super 14), when he came on for them, he opened up games."
Henry said Weepu had begrudgingly supported the concept, believing it was a measure of his class that he hadn't reacted negatively. He is also invaluable as five-eighth cover at a time when that position is thin at the top level in New Zealand.
"Any sportsman wants to start in the team situation. For us, at this point in time, I think it's better he comes on and makes a point of difference."
Since Weepu's debut in 2004, he has played 18 of his 31 Tests off the reserve bench, climbing quickly to seventh on the all time list of All Blacks to have played the most Tests as substitutes.
That list is headed by current hooker Keven Mealamu, on 25, a man who Henry nominated as the other obvious bench specialist in his squad.
"He's got great feet hasn't he? Defences get a bit tired in the last 20 so he's got that ability," Henry said of the 30-year-old, who was arguably New Zealand's best performer in Saturday's 14-10 defeat of France in Wellington.
WELLINGTON NZPA
