The Warriors will meet the Panthers in Christchurch in 2016.

The Penrith Panthers could be playing National Rugby League games in Christchurch for the next four years after a deal brokered by Canterbury Rugby League board member Justin Wallace.

Penrith will host the Warriors at AMI Stadium on May 14 in the first NRL game in Christchurch for six years.

"Christchurch is a traditional stronghold for rugby league so this game should see a sell-out crowd at AMI Stadium," Wallace, a Christchurch events promoter, predicted.

He confirmed the Panthers will play a home fixture in the city for the next two NRL seasons, with an option for another two years.

The Panthers' executive general manager Phil Gould, a former NRL first grade and New South Wales State of Origin coach, said the deal was a "significant step in the growth and development of rugby league".

Gould said the club was excited about the opportunity to take NRL football to Christchurch.

"Over the next four years we hope to build a strong relationship with the area and have committed ourselves to the promotion and development of rugby league through junior league and schools programmes."

Canterbury Rugby League chairman Andrew McCormick said the Panthers' presence was a tremendous opportunity to grow rugby league's profile in Canterbury.

"It's incredibly exciting. Justin has done really well to get that across the line. There will be the ability for us to have community opportunities with the Panthers coming over early in the week to get involved."

The match will be supported by the Christchurch City Council and Gould expected the partnership to be successful.

Christchurch mayor Lianne Dalziel welcomed the announcement and said the games were another big step in reclaiming the city's pre-earthquake position as one of New Zealand's top venues for major events.

"Christchurch is a city that loves our sport and we are proud to be hosting the NRL and we want to commend the Penrith Panthers for committing their home games to Christchurch.

"These games are another significant signal to Australia and the rest of the world that Christchurch is back and we are open for business."

Wallace said Penrith had a strong history with Christchurch dating back to the 1980s when junior teams were regular visitors to the city. "The opportunity to host this game and work with the local rugby league body on initiatives to grow the game here and throughout the South Island is very exciting."

The last NRL regular season game in Christchurch was in 2010 when the Roosters brought a home game here, but lost 20-18 to the Warriors after a hat-trick of tries to former Kiwi fullback Kevin Locke.

The Penrith-Warriors' match will be the first elite professional rugby league game on the Addington ground formerly known as Rugby League Park, since the AMI Stadium was established there in 2012.

Penrith have lost former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary and Christchurch-raised Kiwis utility Lewis Brown has left the Panthers for Manly, but they still have former Warriors Elijah Taylor and Suaia Matagi and Kiwis Dean Whare and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

The Warriors will parade their two star Kiwis signings, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke.