Lees, who has played for and coached the men's national team, had taken a break from coaching at the top level before accepting a role with the Sparks last summer.
He has answered the call again, stepping in for Katrina Keenan, who announced her resignation earlier this month. Lees will guide the side through the home series against the West Indies in late February and the ICC world twenty20 tournament in March.
The 61-year-old said he had had two sleepless nights thinking about the challenge ahead.
''I just love coaching the Sparks,'' he said.
''It is great fun and they are just so good to deal with and they've made so much progress. And I see this as a similar sort of thing ... and I'm looking forward to it.
''It is a job you have to go into seriously, because we've got to make some progress.''
Lees had a long career behind the stumps for Otago, amassing a record 108 first-class games for the province.
He went on to play 21 tests and 37 one-day internationals for New Zealand from 1976-1983.
He coached Otago in 1989 before landing the New Zealand position the following year, a role he held for three years.
Lees will remain with the Sparks until the end of the season.
Otago is at the top of the one-day competition points table with two round-robin matches remaining and can still make the final of the twenty20 competition.
It has been a good season but it might be Lees last with the team.
He said it was NZC's decision to make the appointment an interim one and he was not opposed to taking on the role on a more permanent basis.
In a press release, New Zealand Cricket head of cricket operations Lindsay Crocker said he was delighted to find someone with Lees' experience for the role.
''We're thrilled that Warren has come on board through to the end of the World Twenty20, in what is a busy time for the White Ferns,'' he said.
''Having spent time as both an international player and coach, Warren brings years of knowledge and experience to the role, which is difficult to find.
''He knows what is required and is passionate about the game. He's got all the right attributes and we're confident he'll do a fantastic job.''
