Wellington, March 12 NZPA - Wellington's Jamie Joseph will coach New Zealand Maori with Daryl Gibson assisting him, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) announced today.

Joseph, 40, said he was thrilled by the challenge of coaching NZ Maori in their centenary year.

"It's a real honour to again be involved in coaching the New Zealand Maori team.

"All players that pull on the Maori jersey trace their whakapapa (genealogy) back to the Maori canoes that first arrived in New Zealand, and to the history of our people, so it means they embrace the huge responsibility of going out and playing as Maori rugby players," he added.

It is a step up for Joseph, who was assistant coach of the side in 2006.

Joseph, head coach of Wellington in the national championships, played 20 tests for the All Blacks from 1992-1995 and 10 matches for New Zealand Maori from 1991-1994.

Gibson played 12 matches for New Zealand Maori from 1996-2001 and was Maori player of the year in 2000. He played 19 tests for the All Blacks from 1999-2002 and has been assistant coach of the Crusaders since 2009.

The New Zealand Maori team will be announced at the end of the Super 14 championship in May.