A tireless black wall frustrated the Wallabies, who will again end the year without the symbol of trans-Tasman supremacy, despite two tests remaining in the series.
New Zealand have all but claimed the Tri-Nations trophy as well after snaring a fourth win from four matches. They sit on 19 points and can only be passed by Australia if the Wallabies snared bonus point wins in their last three matches while the All Blacks must go point-less in their two remaining games.
After a run of high-scoring spectacles - including the 49-28 romp between the two teams in Melbourne a week ago - tonight's fixture descended into a battle of the trenches.
The only three tries came in the first 14 minutes before both sides' defences stiffened and errors crept into the match.
Australia dominated possession, winning a multitude of ruck possession, but lacked the cutting edge of the hosts who won through tries to fullback Mils Muliaina and centre Conrad Smith, along with 10 points from the boot of first five-eighth Daniel Carter.
Their defence was accurate and relentless while Tony Woodcock, playing his 67th test to break the record for an All Blacks prop, led a dominant scrum effort.
The match was blessedly bereft of any of the yellow cards which have dominated this year's Tri-Nations series although Woodcock may have been fortunate to escape the sinbin for a vigorous tackle off the ball on hooker Saia Faingaa.
New Zealand were also penalised heavily at the breakdown, which eventually earned a warning from South African referee Jonathan Kaplan.
Hooker Keven Mealamu and flankers Jerome Kaino and Richie McCaw were also prominent while the All Blacks backline always looked more threatening as a unit, with their Wallabies' opposites guilty of some loose passes.
Carter was forced to kick more than in any test this year, with his long, angled punts proving effective.
It was a disappointing return to Christchurch for Wallabies coach Robbie Deans, so often the victor here during long tenures as the Canterbury and Crusaders mentor.
It was his team's ninth successive loss to the All Blacks, equalling their worst streak against any side, while the All Blacks extended their winning streak against all opponents to 13.
The game was at its most frantic in the opening stages.
Muliaina crossed the tryline after quick ruck ball was moved to the blindside to flying winger Joe Rokocoko, who linked nicely with his longtime teammate.
The Wallabies struck back three minutes later via Kurtley Beale when the fullback dashed 65m after his team secured turnover ball.
Centre Conrad Smith then nabbed a try to restore the seven-point advantage, set up by neat Carter pop pass and wide clearance by halfback Piri Weepu.
Wallabies No 10 Matt Giteau and Carter traded penalties before the break as the match settled into a slugfest.
Giteau and Weepu both missed long-range penalty attempts and it took a Carter penalty in the 69th minute to finally break the 17-10 halftime deadlock.
The next month in the Tri-Nations will see the All Blacks seeking a clean sweep over South Africa in Johannesburg on August 21.
