South Africa dominated the afternoon session on the opening day of the first test in Dunedin.
The captain, Graeme Smith, led the charge with an impressive half-century and, at the tea break, the touring side was well-placed at 86 for one.
But experienced seamer Chris Martin struck three times in the space of four balls to wrestle the momentum back for the home side shortly after the interval.
At stumps, the Proteas were 191 for seven and, while their innings had shown promise, the day belonged to New Zealand.
Smith and Hashim Amla were not able to convert half-centuries and that, Amla said, had cost the visiting sides.
"It was not our best day, obviously," he said.
"It was disappointing that the guys who got in didn't capitalise on it.
"But we've had days like this before and have come out on top, so the guys are disappointed but we are not in panic mode or anything."
Rain delayed the start of the match with play finally getting under way at 2.15pm with a minimum of 59 overs available.
Smith played with great freedom on an easy-paced pitch. He worked the ball off his hip and pads with routine ease, drove the ball down the ground and whacked the ball over midwicket when he got the opportunity.
Alviro Petersen was more circumspect down the other end but helped complete a poor first over for Trent Boult with a nice boundary. After eight overs, New Zealand was probably regretting its decision to field first.
The cloud cover, which had hung around all morning, had lifted and no-one could get the ball to swing.
Smith had made rapid progress with 22 runs from 26 balls in the opening 30 minutes. While the sun was coming out over the University Oval, the darkness was beginning to descend on the home side.
Slumped shoulders and lowered heads told a rather ominous story.
Boult had gone for 11 in his first over but recovered from a poor start when he trapped Petersen lbw for 11. Umpire Aleem Dar gave a shake of the head but New Zealand captain Ross Taylor used the decision review system successfully.
Daniel Vettori was thrown the ball after just 15 overs. The master of flight and subtle changes of pace quickly settled into his work. He used the wind beautifully to drift the ball in.
Amla was not about to let Vettori set the tone, though, and shimmied down the pitch and whacked the ball over long-on for six. Brave shot considering Vettori was getting the ball to turn away from his bat.
Amla had a life on 16 when Smith called him through for a quick single and Doug Bracewell's throw narrowly missed the stumps.
It is amazing how often a break disrupts a player's concentration.
Smith had been in commanding form and looked to pick up where he left off. He launched into a drive but found a disbelieving Rob Nicol happy to take a simple catch in the covers.
Martin had dismissed Smith six times previously and was delighted to increase his tally to seven.
The experienced seamer has also had the better of Jacques Kallis over the years and won the personal duel again when he found the edge of the great all-rounder's bat.
AB de Villiers was next. He was trapped lbw for a first ball duck and Martin had taken three wickets in four balls, changing the complexion of the game.
Amla raised his 50 with a drive through the covers and celebrated with another through point. But he was undone on 62 when he edged a Vettori delivery.
The ball ballooned off the keeper's gloves and Taylor completed a simple catch.
Jacques Rudolph survived what would have been a successful review of an lbw appeal because Bracewell had overstepped by a tiny margin.
He will resume today on 46 with Vernon Philander at the wicket with him. Play will start at the earlier time of 10am.
