England have thrown away near-certain victory, handing the Blackcaps a 2-1 T20 series lead.
New Zealand claimed a 14-run win at Saxton Oval in Nelson on Tuesday, after setting England 181.
The tourists were cruising at 139/2 in the 15th over, before skipper Eion Morgan holed out to Colin Munro, off Mitchell Santner, sparking a middle-order collapse.
Morgan was followed back to the pavillion by Sam Billings, who was run out - Munro again to the fore - before the key wicket of James Vince in the following over swung the game in New Zealand's favour.
Vince looked assured in compiling 49 from 38 balls, but had a brain explosion, when he picked out Tim Southee off the bowling of impressive Blair Tickner. The Central Stags seamer was a standout with his 2/25 from four overs in just his second T20 international.
Lockie Ferguson put the game beyond England, removing Sam Curran and Lewis Gregory in his final over, as the tourists limped to 167/7.
Earlier, Martin Guptill ensured New Zealand got off to a flying start, taking 19 runs from the first two overs. The veteran right-hand batsman smashed 33 from 17 balls, before a change of pace from Pat Brown saw Guptill dismissed, caught smartly by Tom Curran at mid-off.
Colin Munro and Time Seifert followed soon after, leaving New Zealand 70/3 after eight overs.
Ross Taylor (27) and Colin de Grandhomme (55) powered their way to a 66-run stand in just six overs, before de Grandhomme fell to Curran when he failed to clear deep mid-on.
After looking set for 200-plus, the Blackcaps struggled their way to the finish-line, with Jimmy Neesham (20) providing another late spark.
A total of 180 felt 20 runs short and probably should have been, had England not handed New Zealand a lifeline with five overs to play.
New Zealand 180/7 (Colin de Grandhomme 55, Martin Guptill 33, Ross Taylor 27; Tom Curran 2/29) beat England 166/7 (Dawid Malan 55, James Vince 49; Blair Tickner 2/25, Lockie Ferguson 2/25) by 14 runs.
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