Australia captured the vital wicket of Daniel Vettori after lunch but now has another persistent New Zealand partnership to break at tea on the fourth day of the first Test at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
The visitors broke a fighting 126-run partnership between Vettori and Brendon McCullum when Nathan Hauritz bowled the skipper out for 77, leaving New Zealand battling at 6-309, although slightly ahead of Australia's first-innings total.
However, McCullum (92 not out) took responsibility in the fightback and, along with Daryl Tuffey (22 not out), carried New Zealand through to 6-363 at tea, an overall lead of 61 runs.
A big discussion had taken place on the pitch after lunch when, due to the gusting winds, the technology was unable to be used during a video review of a potential McCullum dismissal.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting quickly approached umpire Asad Rauf and made sure that New Zealand also wouldn't be able to use the technology when it was its turn with the ball.
Starting the day at 5-187, New Zealand desperately needed to reach lunch without losing a wicket and did so thanks to some stubborn play from Vettori and McCullum who helped the home side through to 5-266 at the break.
Vettori, as in the first innings, was looking strong leading into the break and earlier reached his half century off 64 balls, his third against Australia.
It was a much more relaxed and easy-going McCullum down the other end who was providing excellent support for Vettori, who was the more attacking of the two and finally reached his 50 off 110 balls.
New Zealand had earlier been forced to follow-on after its disappointing first-innings total of 157 and, after a reasonably solid start, started to fall apart in its second stand with the bat.
Once again it was Australian seamer Doug Bollinger, who took a five-wicket bag in the first innings, who ripped through New Zealand's top-order to have them staring down the barrel of another poor innings with the bat.