It was March 2004 and former opening batsman Mark Richardson recalls the three games well.
The tenacious left-hander did not have the greatest series, but he did manage to score a valuable 45 in the second test to help set up a nine-wicket win.
The first test had been drawn and South Africa was desperate to avoid a series defeat.
"I remember we blew it," Richardson said. "I thought we had the winning of the series."
The New Zealand team was riding a wave of confidence after a strong showing in the second test at Eden Park. Scott Styris had scored a century in what Richardson described as one of the best innings he had seen from a New Zealand test batsman.
His 170 set up the win and the powerful middle order of Craig McMillan (82), Chris Cairns (158) and Jacob Oram (90) rattled on some quick runs to help New Zealand build an impressive 299-run first-innings lead. But strike bowler Chris Martin was the hero, taking 11 wickets in the match.
It was New Zealand's first win against South Africa on home soil in 13 attempts and hopes were high the team could go on to record its first series win.
But a determined South Africa ground out a six-wicket win in the third test in Wellington. Opener Graeme Smith scored an undefeated 125 in the second innings and spinner Nicky Boje took eight wickets in the match.
Others played smaller roles but contributed nonetheless to a good win for the visitors.
"Andre Nel bowled an inspired spell and was one of the guys who helped them win that test. Flem [Stephen Fleming] and I were out there batting and he bowled about a 10-over spell of good aggressive bowling and we just got stalled.
"Through just pure grit and mental strength, they were able to save the series. We just couldn't match them with the same level of determination."
Richardson does not hold out a lot of hope for the Black Caps when South Africa finally returns later this summer. The Proteas arrive in February for three twenty/20 matches, three one-day fixtures and three tests.
He expects South Africa will be too strong, particularly in the test series. However, he believes the South African bowling attack is not as threatening as it has been in the past.
"South Africa is a very well-balanced side. They have quality batsmen and a hard edge to them but I don't think their bowling is quite what it was.
"They still have some quality bowlers, don't get me wrong. But I don't think they are at the same level as they were when they had [Allan] Donald and [Shaun] Pollock and [Makhaya] Ntini."
As for the Black Caps' attack, Richardson gave a dire assessment.
"We'll struggle to bowl them out twice and we'll need a lot of assistance from the surface."
While Tim Southee has been a big improver and Martin will run in and do a "manly job", the Blacks Caps' attack lacks penetration and will labour against a South African line-up likely to feature Smith, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Jacques Kallis, he said.
"We're still looking for that replacement for Shane Bond and we know Daniel Vettori needs to bowl a lot of overs in test matches to take wickets. So I think we will struggle."
That will put a lot of pressure on the Black Caps' batting line-up. Put simply, they will have to score a lot of runs, probably just to avoid defeat but certainly to have any chance of forcing a win.
"We're going to need to score a lot of runs. But there is enough quality there, but I still question whether there is that true desire and desperation to become better test-match cricketers."
Black Caps home draw
Jan 26: v Zimbabwe, Napier, one-off test
Feb 3: v Zimbabwe, Dunedin, ODI
Feb 6: v Zimbabwe, Whangarei, ODI
Feb 9: v Zimbabwe, Napier, ODI
Feb 11: v Zimbabwe, Auckland, twenty/20
Feb 14: v Zimbabwe, Hamilton, twenty/20
Feb 17: v South Africa, Wellington, twenty/20
Feb 19: v South Africa, Hamilton, twenty/20
Feb 22: v South Africa, Auckland, twenty/20
Feb 25: v South Africa, Wellington, ODI
Feb 29: v South Africa, Napier, ODI
March 3: v South Africa, Auckland, ODI
March 7: v South Africa, Dunedin, test
March 15: v South Africa, Hamilton, test
March 23: v South Africa, Wellington, test
