Victory would have been the 22nd in a row for second five-eighth Nonu, a longer winning streak than any of the 1078 All Blacks who have contested 434 tests.
Instead his run which began against Italy at Melbourne in 2003 finishes on 21, leaving him level with current teammate Leon MacDonald, whose streak stretched from 2005 to 2007 and was halted in the World Cup quarterfinal loss to France.
They are some way clear of the 17-test winning runs established by legendary lock Colin Meads during another period of All Blacks dominance in the late 1960s and current hooker Keven Mealamu, whose successful burst ended against Australia in Melbourne last year.
Nonu's test debut against England five years ago resulted in defeat but in a subsequent career marked by injury and sporadic non-selection, he managed to avoid New Zealand's occasional losses until Saturday's 28-30 Tri-Nations defeat at Carisbrook.
The loss was the first for midfield partner Smith, who had compiled 15 wins.
That was the equal best test start to any All Blacks career, matching the 15 of Nick Evans before his brief involvement off the bench in last year's World Cup exit.
Sione Lauaki's perfect record ended at 14 on Saturday, leaving him tied with former centre Isaia Toeava.
For the longest unbeaten streak, both Nonu and Smith must both bow in their respective categories to former first five-eighth Grant Fox.
Fox wasn't in a losing team through his first 24 tests from 1985 to 1991, with the only blip being the 19-19 draw with Australia at Brisbane in 1988, a match that prevented several of his teammates registering long winning streaks.
During a period when midweek fixtures were still commonplace, Fox didn't taste defeat in his first 46 games for the All Blacks.
The most consecutive test rugby wins for an All Blacks player:
21: Ma'a Nonu 2003-08, Leon MacDonald 2005-07
17: Colin Meads 1965-69, Keven Mealamu 2005-07
16: Bruce McLeod 1965-69, Piri Weepu 2005-07, Mark Hammett 2000-03
15: Conrad Smith 2004-08, Nick Evans 2004-07
14: Alan Whetton 1984-88, Greg Somerville* 2005-, Sione Laua ki 2005-08, Isaia Toeava 2005-07
* streak still current
Most wins before first defeat:
15: Smith, Evans
14: Lauaki, Toeava
13: Chris Masoe 2005-07, Ian MacRae 1966-69
12: Fergie McCormick 1965-69
11: Tana Umaga 1997-99, Gary Whetton 1981-84
