Damian McKenzie will miss the All Blacks' Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires following a family bereavement.
Utility back McKenzie was to return to New Zealand, ruling him out of Saturday's Rugby Championship Test.
He will rejoin the All Blacks in Pretoria for their final-round match against South Africa next week.
Attacking wizard McKenzie has shone in all seven Tests this year, with six of those appearances coming off the bench.
However, his most recent touch was forgettable for the 23-year-old.
He had the ball knocked out of his hands in the final act of New Zealand's 36-34 loss to South Africa in Wellington as the world champions looked set to cross for a match-winning try.
The All Blacks and Pumas teams were to be announced later on Thursday.