Jamie Joseph will step down as Wellington Lions coach to take on the Highlanders in the Super 15 next season, the New Zealand Rugby Union confirmed on Friday.
Joseph will remain with Wellington's ITM Cup squad until the end of August.
A new assistant coach for the Highlanders – widely tipped to be Southland co-coach Simon Culhane – will be announced in the next week.
Joseph is looking forward to the new challenge.
"The Highlanders are an exciting team with a great mix of experience and plenty of new potential. This is a great opportunity for me and one I am looking forward to," he said.
The appointment means Glenn Moore has been dumped after two seasons in charge of the struggling southern franchise.
Joseph's strong affiliation with the south includes a provincial rugby career for Otago where he played 68 games as a lock and then a loose-forward until 1995.
The 40-year-old former All Black led Wellington to consecutive NPC finals in 2008 and 2009. He also won the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland in 2008, holding it for five defences.
This year, he coached the New Zealand Maori team in its centenary year with assistant coach Daryl Gibson, leading the team to a clean sweep over the New Zealand Barbarians, Ireland and England in the Centenary Series.
Nzru general manager of professional rugby Neil Sorensen and Highlanders chairman Ross Laidlaw welcomed Joseph's appointment as a positive move for the Highlanders.
"Jamie had three fantastic wins with the New Zealand Maori this year and two positive seasons with Wellington. His own successful career as a player gives him an added layer as a coach and his teams benefit from that.
"Stepping up to a Super Rugby side is a natural progression for Jamie, and it's a move I am sure the Highlanders will capitalise on," said Sorensen.
Laidlaw said Joseph had been impressive during the New Zealand Maori Centenary Series and during his provincial rugby coaching career.
"Jamie is one of those solid figures in rugby – he was an imposing player both for the All Blacks and for Otago. He has expressed his commitment as head coach not only to the Highlanders, but also to our three provincial unions. We are extremely pleased – indeed excited – that Jamie will lead the Highlanders during their last season at Carisbrook and thereafter at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium," Laidlaw said.
Laidlaw also paid tribute to Moore.
"We are very thankful to Glenn for his loyalty and great work with the team and franchise. He has consistently put the interests of the team first and we thank him for his enormous contribution," Laidlaw said.