Waikato sign Hurricanes centre Pita Ahki

Hurricanes centre Pita Ahki has signed for Waikato ahead of this year's Mitre 10 Cup.

The former Blues centre Ahki played just once for the Hurricanes since signing in 2016 and is the last new face Waikato are expecting - after capturing former All Blacks winger Zac Guildford and former Chiefs utility Dwayne Sweeney.

Ahki heads south from North Harbour, his province since 2011, to replace Willis Halaholo and he's likely to line up in Waikato's midfield with new captain Sweeney.

A silver medallist with New Zealand's sevens team at the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Ahki represented Tonga and New Zealand's under-20s in world rugby championships in 2011 and 2012 respectively.

The Blues snapped him up in 2014 and he won 13 caps for the Auckland franchise before moving to the capital.