The 29-year-old, who has played 79 Tests and scored 1,188 points, said he had turned down lucrative offers to move abroad after this year's World Cup, which is being held in New Zealand.
"This has been an incredibly important decision for me personally and I have received some significant offers to play overseas which were both flattering and tempting," Carter said.
"But in the end the overriding factor for me was the All Blacks jersey.
"The more I thought of potentially playing overseas and not being able to represent my country and wear that black jersey was pretty challenging - it's a big reason for me staying.
"I realise that it is not a given to be playing for the All Blacks and there a number of young guys coming through who in the next couple of years will be in their prime so that's a wee challenge that I'm looking forward to."
Carter's decision is a major long-term boost for the NZRU which, fearing a wholesale exodus after the World Cup, asked its players to determine their future beyond 2011 before the September 9 to October 23 tournament.
The NZRU had singled out Carter as one of its top three contract renewal targets along with captain Richie McCaw and inside centre Sonny Bill Williams.
At least 20 other All Blacks have already committed to the NZRU beyond the World Cup with hooker Keven Mealamu, prop Tony Woodcock, lock Ali Williams, flanker Jerome Kaino and scrum half Jimmy Cowan heading a core group of grizzled veterans with the remainder mostly in their early to mid-20s.
Room for movement
New Zealand has a policy of selecting only players contracted to the NZRU for the All Blacks, effectively ruling out those playing abroad.
Carter's new contract will, however, allow him to take a sabbatical similar to the one he undertook in 2008 with French club Perpignan which was cut short by an Achilles' tendon injury.
"We believe that the contract is a reflection of the high standing that Dan has in the game both here and overseas," NZRU chief executive Steve Tew said.
"We have been very flexible in our approach, which again shows how important we think Dan is to the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby.
"As an example, we have built in options for Dan to take an extended break from the game if he so wishes - whether that's to take a break from rugby or play overseas and he will discuss that with us at the right time."
One of the biggest clues to Carter staying in New Zealand was the recent decision of fly half Colin Slade, a potential Test understudy for Carter, to re-sign with the Otago Highlanders for another two years.
Slade had the option to return to the Canterbury Crusaders next year after joining the Highlanders this year, though he has spent the majority of the Super rugby season on the sidelines after breaking his jaw twice.
Carter, who will continue to play for the Crusaders until 2015, is the highest points scorer in Super rugby and second on the all time list for points scored in Test matches, just behind England fly half Jonny Wilkinson.
- Reuters
Tags: sport, rugby-union, rugby-world-cup, super-14, new-zealand First posted May 18, 2011 11:09:00
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