The Australian netballers prevented a Silver Ferns clean sweep with a 59-53 win in the third Constellation Cup test in Christchurch.
The home side let a five-goal first quarter lead slip as Australia played a dominant hand through the second and third quarters with a superior attacking and defensive effort.
Trailing by 12 heading into the last quarter, the Silver Ferns fought back to trim the deficit as shooter Cathrine Latu was injected for her first appearance of the series. But it proved too little too late.
Playing her first test in five years, veteran shooter Jodi Brown started alongside Irene van Dyk after the individual standout of the first two tests, goal attack Maria Tutaia, was ruled out with a knee injury.
Captain Casey Williams was again left on the bench with her knee injury while rising young Northern Mystics defender Kayla Cullen took over the wing defence's bib from Anna Harrison in the Silver Ferns starting line-up.
New Zealand had already secured the three-game Constellation Cup series after winning the first two games.
