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Wellington - New Zealand will play their first home Test against Zimbabwe in 11 years, as well as a three-match series against South Africa, in the next southern hemisphere summer, New Zealand Cricket announced on Friday.
The Black Caps start their Test season with two matches in neighbouring Australia in December before returning home to take on the Zimbabweans in a Test at Napier in late January 2012.
Newly-appointed captain Ross Taylor will then lead the team in Tests against the Proteas, ranked second in the world, in Dunedin, Hamilton and Wellington in March.
Christchurch, which was heavily damaged by a deadly earthquake in February, is unable to host any matches.
Zimbabwe's tour will be their first since 2001 and was cleared to take place after the New Zealand government earlier this month waived a ban on sporting tours imposed in protest at the African country's president Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabwe will also play three one-dayers and two Twenty/20 internationals against New Zealand, while the South Africans will kick off their tour with three Twenty/20s and a trio of one-dayers.
New Zealand, who are ranked eighth in the ICC's Test rankings and seventh in one-dayers, will be without all rounder Scott Styris, who quit international cricket on Friday.
Tour details:
February 17, First Twenty20
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
February 19, Second Twenty20
Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 22, Third Twenty20
Eden Park, Auckland
February 25, First ODI
Westpac Stadium, Wellington
February 29, Second ODI
McLean Park, Napier
March 3, Third ODI
Eden Park, Auckland
March 7-11, First Test
University Oval, Dunedin
March 15-19, Second Test
Seddon Park, Hamilton
March 23-27, Third Test
Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington
