England had to settle for two wickets on the third morning at the Basin Reserve as Brendon McCullum again proved their stumbling block.
Stuart Broad and James Anderson took two wickets in four balls in the first half-hour, before McCullum (52no) dominated an unbroken stand of 80 with BJ Watling in New Zealand's lunchtime 169 for five.
In reply to 465 all out, the Kiwis were nonetheless still in danger of following on at some point under cloud cover - and therefore in need of continued resistance from their captain.
England's initial breakthrough in the morning was a bonus, achieved in unlikely circumstances. Kane Williamson drove a full-length ball back at the perfect height for Broad to hold a sharp return chance just to his left in his follow-through. It was a mode of dismissal which could hardly have been part of the plan.
But as on the second night, when Broad took two in two, England again cashed in quickly - thanks to Anderson this time. The tourists' pace spearhead got one in the right place to Dean Brownlie, who went back and was hit deep in the crease by a delivery which nipped into him.
The height of impact gave him hope on DRS, but simulation narrowly vindicated Asad Rauf's lbw decision.
Broad had already beaten McCullum's outside edge first ball, and did so again with a very good outswinger three overs later before also snaking one back to hit him on the pad just outside the line of off stump.
In between, though, New Zealand's danger man cracked Broad for two back-foot fours through the off side and then pulled him for a mighty six over square-leg.
By the end of the session he was past 50, from 64 balls, for the sixth time against England this winter.
His further contribution, or otherwise, to his team's first innings already seemed to be a pivotal factor in the outcome of this match.
