Bond starred at the 2007 World Cup (Getty)

The 32-year-old paceman will join in April and play through to the start of the Twenty20 Cup in mid-June.

Bond has played 17 Tests and 67 one-day games for New Zealand, but both figures would have been far higher but for a series of injury problems.

Hants team manager Paul Terry said: "I'm really excited. Finding a bowler of his quality has been difficult."

Worcestershire were also interested in signing Bond but Hampshire won the race for a player whose international career may be over following his recent decision to join the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League.

He will add a wealth of skill and experience to our relatively inexperienced bowling squad Hampshire team manager Paul Terry

Bond is still ranked the second-best bowler in one-day internationals behind South Africa's Shaun Pollock, and seventh in the Test list headed by Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan.

"He's regarded as one of the best quick bowlers in all forms of the game. He will add a wealth of skill and experience to our relatively inexperienced bowling squad," said Terry.

Skipper Shane Warne will be rejoining Hampshire for the final part of the season.

Meanwhile, the club is continuing to look for what chairman Rod Bransgrove describes as "a world-class all-rounder" to take over from Bond and fill the overseas vacancy during the Twenty20 Cup.

"With the reduction in the number of permitted overseas players from two to one, we have spent more time than ever making sure we have the very best possible combination of overseas talent for the forthcoming season," Bransgrove commented.