Tom Blundell dragged New Zealand back into the match with an excellent hundred, sharing crucial lower-order partnerships worth 50+ with debutants Scott Kuggeleijn and Blair Tickner to reduce England's first innings lead to just 19, before Ben Stokes' men attacked their way to 79-2 at the close of play.
Blundell was outstanding against England last summer, scoring 383 runs at an average of 76.60, and he picked up where he left off in Mount Maunganui with a brilliant 138 to propel New Zealand to 306. Having resumed on 37-3 after a dramatic first day's play, New Zealand batted much more traditionally, with Devon Conway digging in on his way to 77, having benefited from a Zak Crawley drop late on day one.
Nightwatchman Neil Wagner blasted a couple of sixes off Stuart Broad after he was given a no ball reprieve, but the England man had the last laugh as he dismissed Wagner for 27. It is the 1,000th wicket Broad and James Anderson have claimed together, leaving them in elite company alongside Australian duo Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne as the only other pairing to reach the landmark.
Ollie Robinson, the pick of England's bowlers with 4-54, then pinned Daryl Mitchell lbw for a duck, before captain Stokes prized out the wicket of Conway in a spell of short pitched bowling following the tea break.
In an over that had been extended by Stokes repeatedly overstepping, Conway slapped delivery number eight to Ollie Pope at square leg as he fell 23 runs short of a fifth Test century. And when spinner Jack Leach removed Michael Bracewell just five overs later, England were well on top with New Zealand still trailing by 143 runs with only three wickets in hand.
However, Blundell led an excellent fightback alongside New Zealand's seamers, adding 124 with Kuggeleijn, Tickner and captain Tim Southee. Blundell scored the majority of the runs and dragged his side back into the game with an outstanding fourth Test ton.
"Tom Blundell played the situation with the tail so well," England bowler Chris Woakes told BT Sport. "It is not an easy thing to do to keep the strike and score boundaries as well. It was a fantastic knock."
Once he holed out for 138 after charging Anderson, New Zealand were looking forward to a 16 over burst at England with the pink ball under lights. However, unlike England on day one, New Zealand initially lacked penetration and proved expensive.
With the hosts missing Kyle Jamieson to injury, Matt Henry to paternity leave and opting not to call up Trent Boult after he turned down a central contract last year, Crawley and Duckett quickly brought up their fifty partnership before falling for 25 and 28 respectively.
The dismissal of Crawley brought Broad to the crease at number four, allowing him to perform a typically entertaining cameo as the NightHawk. And England reached the close having extended their lead to 98 runs, setting up what should be a fascinating day three.
