Dan Carter will miss the start of the Rugby Championship after suffering a leg fracture during the Super Rugby final last Saturday.
The All Black fly-half will need to rest for approximately four weeks to let the small crack in his right fibula, which was not originally picked up by the X-ray, to heal.
He has been replaced in the squad by his Crusaders teammate Colin Slade who was first omitted despite a convincing season in the No.10 jersey, even pushing Carter to No.12 for the end of the Super Rugby season.
New Zealand kick off their campaign next week with back-to-back Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia but Carter is hoping to be fit for the reception of Argentina on September 6.