Domestic rugby - including the NPC, Farah Palmer Cup and the Heartland Championship - will recommence from September 17, outside Auckland.
Since New Zealand moved to COVID-19 Alert Level 4 last month, no rugby at any level has been played, as the country battled an outbreak of the Delta variant.
But with most of New Zealand moving to Alert Level 2 on Tuesday night, NZ Rugby has confirmed a return to domestic rugby.
"It's great to be in a position where our teams and fans can look forward to some rugby again," says NZR community rugby general manager Steve Lancaster.
"Although we'd love to get everyone back out there this weekend, player safety must be our No.1 priority, so we have built in a week for our teams to prepare, before they return to the field.
"And importantly, with play resuming next weekend, we are planning to play the full schedule of matches in all three competitions, with later completion dates for each."
The September 17 restart date will allow players to return to training from Wednesday, in order to build fitness through full-contact intensity.
But the three provinces located within the greater Auckland area - Auckland, Counties Manukau and North Harbour - will not return until the region reaches Alert Level 2.
Those three sides will play catch-up matches later in the season.
"We know it's a tough situation for everyone in Auckland, but we are taking a positive view that the alert levels will go down," adds Lancaster. "We are making contingency plans for Auckland, North Harbour and Counties Manukau to re-join the competitions with minimal disruption when they are able.
"We thank all three of our Auckland-based unions for their understanding and support in resuming these competitions, while they remain at Alert Level 4."
NZ Rugby will revise schedules for the three domestic competitions.
