Injured Black Caps opener Martin Guptill, already out of the remaining cricket one-dayer against England, will also miss the three-Test series against the tourists.
A hamstring strain means Guptill will sit out the deciding ODI in Auckland on Saturday.
But it is a ligament problem in his left thumb that will keep the 26-year-old out of the Tests in March.
He will have surgery on the thumb next week, with the aim of being right for New Zealand’s tour of England later this year.
Black Caps physiotherapist Paul Close says Guptill could have continued playing in the short term with the thumb, but he needs to have the operation at some point.
“We felt it was best to get Martin right for the tour to England in May and June, so the next couple of months were seen as the best window to have the surgery,” Close said.
Guptill strained the hamstring in the opening one-dayer in Hamilton on Sunday.
He initially retired hurt, but hobbled back at the end of New Zealand’s run chase to belt five boundaries, including a six, on the way to an unbeaten 27 that helped to steer his side to victory.
Meanwhile, promising Northern Districts leg-spinner Ish Sodhi has had to withdraw from the New Zealand XI squad to play England in a four-day warm-up match next week.
Sodhi, 20, suffered a quad strain on Thursday in the Plunket Shield match against Central Districts in Nelson and has been replaced by off-spinner Jeetan Patel.