Rotorua is celebrating the announcement that the Māori All Blacks will play in the city in 2017.
The Māori All Blacks at a friendly match in Tokyo Japan last year. Photo: Photosport
It will be 12 years since they last played in the rohe, where the team has a huge following.
Destination Rotorua's Events and Venues general manager Peter McCleod said it was a fitting place to host the match.
"Rotorua delivers on these big occasions and we will do so again in 2017. I'm especially thrilled that Rotorua, as the centre of Māori culture and tourism, will get to host the Māori All Blacks match," he said.
Mr McCleod said he expected it to bring thousands of fans from across the motu to the city.
He said the city would host a series of activities in the lead up to the game.
The Rotorua Lakes Council's Charles Sturt said he was certain it would be a success.
"We all remember the hugely successful 2005 Lions tour when Rotorua International Stadium was a total sell-out, and we fully expect that to happen again for this match," he said.
"This is going to be great for Rotorua."
The Bay of Plenty Rugby Union chief executive Mike Rogers said he expected the game to be a historic one.
"Securing a major fixture in the Bay of Plenty is a truly significant achievement, given how sought-after this game was," he said.
"The match is effectively the unofficial fourth test, and for our rugby supporters and wider Bay of Plenty community to have the opportunity to host such a game is very special."
The last time the two sides met, in 2005, the home-side won the game - marking their first ever victory over the Lions, after eight attempts dating back to 1930.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand Barbarians have named a squad to face the Māori All Blacks at Eden Park next weekend.
