Taupo will host the New Zealand under 23 soccer team's attempt to qualify for the Olympics.
The Oceania qualifiers have been moved from Fiji due to the threat of legal action against Oceania general secretary Tai Nicholas by the Fijian government, and Taupo was confirmed as the venue today.
Eight nations - American Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu - are due to take part in the tournament, which is scheduled from March 16 to March 25.
New Zealand coach Neil Emblen was pleased with the choice of venue.
"In Fiji we would have been playing in high humidity and over 30 degree heat every day so with the amount of games the boys have to play during that time it would have been a concern," he said.
"They are all playing summer football in New Zealand so the Taupo conditions will be much more favourable, even if the workload is new to the players."
New Zealand's squad is made up almost entirely from players from New Zealand's ASB Premiership as the five All Whites who meet the age criteria - Chris Wood, Tommy Smith, Kosta Barbarouses, Marco Rojas and Jake Gleeson - are only outside chances to be available.
NZN