The NZ and Australia women's teams will play T20 matches in February as curtain-raisers to T20s between their male counterparts.

The double-headers will take place in Wellington (February 26) and Christchurch (February 28).

The Rose Bowl series is being expanded to include a second leg in New Zealand that will also see the women compete in three one-day internationals in March.

The two teams are already due to play five one-dayers and three Twenty20s in Australia in February and the matches in New Zealand will follow immediately afterwards.

"The schedule means we'll have five Twenty20 matches against strong opposition, heading into the ICC World Twenty20 competition in the West Indies in May," said White Ferns coach Gary Stead.

"The squad has been working hard over the winter with a highly successful series of training camps - and these games against the Australians will be ideal match preparation."