New Zealand have struck first blood in the trans-Tasman Rose Bowl women's one-day cricket series, beating Australia by nine runs in a tense finish in Mt Maunganui.
The visitors, chasing 203 for victory, were bowled out for 193 with two balls to go on Saturday.
Their innings was a mirror of the White Ferns' effort after the home side were sent in to bat.
There was a solid start by the batters followed by a fight-back from the bowlers.
Australian openers Beth Mooney, in her ODI debut, and Nicole Bolton set the platform with a stand of 69.
The breakthrough came from another debutante in seamer Thamsyn Newton, who had Bolton caught at point for 27.
From there, the White Ferns took wickets regularly to put the pressure on.
Mooney reached 53 before being dismissed by legspinner Erin Bermingham, who ended with 3-38.
Ellyse Perry maintained Australian hopes as wickets fell around her, and with two overs to go the equation was 14 runs required with two wickets in hand.
But pace bowler Lee Tahuhu then dismissed Perry for 51, and the Southern Stars were left needing 12 off the last over.
Tahuhu finished with the best New Zealand figures of 3-34.
Earlier, the White Ferns, who last won the Rose Bowl in 1999, posted 202-9, with Amy Satterthwaite top scoring with 72.
After the loss of an early wicket, Satterthwaite and opener Suzie Bates took the score to 82-1 when their 72-run stand was broken in unlucky fashion.
Skipper Bates departed for 43, run out at the the non-striker's end after the ball deflected off legspinner Kristen Beams' fingers.
The White Ferns failed to push on, and they lost their last seven wickets for 83 runs.
Offspinners Grace Harris and Jess Jonassen did most of the damage, both finishing with 3-32.
Game two of the three-match series is at the same venue on Monday.
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