The capital and the Garden City were confirmed yesterday by Rugby New Zealand 2011 chief executive Martin Snedden as each hosting two quarterfinals for the next Rugby World Cup.
The four quarterfinals will be played on the weekend of October 7-9.
Snedden also announced yesterday Auckland would host the third-fourth playoff match between the losing semifinalists.
It had previously been announced that Auckland would host both semifinals and the final.
The final will be played on Labour weekend, from October 21-23, with the third-fourth match likely to take place a day or two before the final.
Dunedin did not apply to host a quarterfinal.
One of the criteria for a quarterfinal was the stadium had to have a capacity of at least 35,000.
Carisbrook held 29,136 in a sold-out test against the Springboks in July this year and the new Awatea St Stadium has a planned capacity of 30,170.
The Westpac Stadium in Wellington would boost its capacity with temporary seating to 40,000, while AMI Stadium in Christchurch was building the new Deans Stand, which would be completed near the end of next year.
With the new stand and temporary seating, the capacity for the Christchurch stadium would be about 50,000.
Snedden said fans in both Wellington and Christchurch had something really special to look forward to in 2011.
He said each region had shown a strong desire to help deliver a world class tournament and deliver a memorable national rugby World Cup festival.
"This realises our `stadium of four million people' philosophy and which carries with it a uniquely Kiwi flavour," Snedden said.
The decision to award the quarterfinals to two cities follows a similar structure to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where two matches were each held in Brisbane and Melbourne.
It was easier operationally to hold the quarterfinals in two venues.
Hamilton and Albany stadium had applied to host the bronze medal match.
Snedden said RNZ 2011 knew "in certain circumstances, holding the games in Auckland would have meant a better financial return to us".
"But in the end, we felt that whatever the difference was worth it in terms of achieving the 'stadium of four million'."
He said the difference in income missed out by spreading the tournament to Wellington and Christchurch were " not inconsiderable".
The World Cup was expected to record a $30 million loss but that has been underwritten by the Government.
Snedden said work had begun on ticketing strategy.
It was a complex operation and would take up to 12 months to work that out.
However, he gave an assurance that local fans would get their share of tickets.
"We are determined that will be the case, so there's a balance to be made and we'll make sure we'll hit that balance," he said.
Snedden had earlier warned tickets would be above what had previously been paid for at a sporting event in New Zealand.
It would be well above prices paid in the first World Cup, in 1987.
Tickets in covered areas for pool matches in Dunedin in 1987 were $20, with a terrace ticket costing just $5.
Rugby World Cup Minister Clayton Cosgrove said the event would boost New Zealand's economy by $500 million and the quarterfinals would provide a huge lift for the respective regions.
But with 40 pool matches yet to be allocated, as well as team bases, there were plenty of other opportunities for regions to maximise economic, social and cultural and tourism spin-offs.
Southern organisers hope to secure attractive pool games, including an All Blacks pool match, and get teams based in the region.
Selling out Carisbrook for the test against the Springboks was a real bonus for the bid, as was a co-ordinated regional approach between southern councils.
Bids have to be with the RNZ 2011 by the end of next month and announcements of pool venues will be made in April next year.
Team bases will be announced at the end of next year.
