The game, if it occurs, will not be played at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium and Carisbrook may struggle to sell out.
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew announced last month the All Blacks were looking to play an additional test this year, partly as a warm-up to the Tri-Nations competition, and also as a fundraiser for the victims of the Christchurch earthquake.
The match was earmarked to be played on July 22, a Friday night, with the opponent and venue to be confirmed.
Tew told Radio Sport yesterday nothing had been confirmed on the test, although union officials were talking to Fijian authorities about the game.
Political issues were a consideration, he said, and they were working through them.
New Zealand and Fiji have strained diplomatic ties after Frank Bainimarama took over the country in a military coup in 2006 and New Zealand banned people with connections to the Bainimarama Government from entering the country.
Tensions had thawed over the past year but the countries still had significant differences.
Tew said Fiji was the second choice for an opponent after Samoa but the Samoan union could not fit the game into its schedule.
"We think Fiji will be a good fit and will be appropriate opposition for the All Blacks.
They [Fiji] need a match but we have a way to go to get over the line," he said.
The All Blacks last played Fiji in 2005, as a warm-up for the Lions series, and the All Blacks won 91-0 at North Harbour stadium.
Tew said if Fiji was ruled out then Argentina was the next cab off the rank.
But Argentina also had issues as it may not be able to call on all its players and costs will increase.
"We want to have it relatively cheap to arrange so we can get some funds for the earthquake victims."
Tew said the union did not want to play Tonga so close to the World Cup. The All Blacks play Tonga to open the World Cup on September 9 at Eden Park.
Tew said the new Forsyth Barr Stadium could not host the test as it would not be finished in time.
The stadium was due to be handed over on August 1 to Dunedin Venues Management Ltd.
The management company declined to comment yesterday.
Otago Rugby Football Union chairman Wayne Graham said Carisbrook was ready and could quite comfortably host the test.
"We had 20,000 in there a few weeks ago and that was fine. The ground has to be kept up as a training venue for the World Cup so there should be no problem with it," he said.
The Otago union was waiting to hear from the national union and had expected confirmation last week.
Graham felt the All Blacks should play in Dunedin as it would be the only time they would play in the South Island this season.
Carisbrook could also be in the frame to host a semifinal of the Super 15.
The Highlanders are still in the hunt, while the Crusaders are looking for an alternative venue with AMI Stadium out of action. Nothing has been decided although Crusaders officials had started to look at a possible venue.
