New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum held on against the Australian attack and vicious Wellington winds to take New Zealand through to 5-266 at lunch on day four of the first Test at the Basin Reserve.
Starting the day at 5-187, New Zealand desperately needed to reach lunch without losing a wicket and it did so thanks to some stubborn play from Vettori (83 not out) and McCullum (39 not out).
The home side is still behind Australia's first innings total of 5-459 declared but at least has a chance to send the visitors into bat again in terribly windy conditions that are forecast to get worse later in the day.
Vettori, as in New Zealand's 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.
New Zealand was forced to follow-on on Sunday 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 haul in the first innings, that ripped through New Zealand's top-order to have it staring down the barrel of another poor innings with the bat.
BJ Watling (33) and Tim McIntosh (83) forged a 70-run partnership and got the ball rolling for their side after a major tail-order collapse earlier in the day forced the home side to follow-on.
However Bollinger soon removed Watling lbw for the second time in the Test before claiming Peter Ingram's (one) wicket two overs later to leave New Zealand struggling on 2-87 at tea.
Ross Taylor was next to go when he was given out lbw off Hauritz's bowling, his first Test wicket for Australia, before Martin Guptill was caught off Ryan Harris for six.