International netball is coming to the Bay of Plenty, with two Quad Series test matches scheduled for Tauranga in October.
The matches - Australia v England and the Silver Ferns v South Africa - were originally to be played in Invercargill but have been moved to Tauranga's TECT Arena after the Stadium Southland rebuild fell behind schedule.
Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle said it was a collective decision to move the double-header north.
"The stadium [Southland] wasn't going to be finished on time ... we're in a situation where all the elements of the venue will not be fully complete [by October], and when we go there we want it to be a celebration of bringing in an international test match and we want it to be in sparkling form."
Netball New Zealand spokesperson Alex Spence said Rotorua's Energy Events Centre had been considered as a possible venue but its main problem was the insufficient lead-in time available.
She said a few days were needed to set up a venue for a big double-header but they were not able to access the Rotorua stadium until about halfway through October 27 - the day before the tests.
However, Ms Spence said there was no reason why Rotorua should not be considered for future internationals, as long as it met all criteria.
Netball Bay of Plenty chief executive Sheryl Dawson was yesterday celebrating, saying the volunteer support in Tauranga for last month's transtasman ANZ Championship pre-season tournament was a big part of its success.
Baypark chief executive Ervin McSweeney said they had known for a while the TECT Arena was a backup for the October tests, which are sandwiched between games in Wellington (October 25) and Hamilton (November 1).
"We're a bit lucky in terms of timing and Southland's unavailability but the impression I got here in early March was favourable enough for [Netball NZ] to look at us as a replacement venue.
"I'm sure they were keen to come here at some stage, and holding that tournament in March brought it to the front of their minds.
"We knew a while ago we were a possibility but didn't follow things that closely until the events down south became clear.
"Suddenly it became 'can you do this', but we'd already put the dates to one side so in a sense it's a bonus, although a well deserved one."
Castle said bringing games to Tauranga was part of her organisation's drive to take the Silver Ferns outside the main centres.
"We are always looking for good quality venues to play in and Tauranga ticks that box.
"I was down at the pre-season tournament and just thought it was an amazing venue, an amazing community facility with amazing community support. I'm sure we'll get that same level of support when the Silver Ferns come to Tauranga."
Quad series schedule:
October 25: Australia v South Africa, NZ v England, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington.
October 28: Australia v England, NZ v South Africa, TECT Arena, Tauranga.
November 1: England v South Africa, NZ v Aust, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton.