The White Ferns have wrapped up a series victory over India with two games still to play, winning the third one day international by three wickets in Queenstown.
The win sees the White Ferns complete an ODI series victory for the first time since 2018, and will give the New Zealand side confidence heading into next month's Cricket World Cup on home soil.
After captain Sophie Devine won the toss and elected to field first, the White Ferns would have been anxious over their skipper's decision backfiring, after India scored a very competitive 279 before being bowled out in the 50th over.
Deepti Sharma top scored for the visitors with an unbeaten 69, while Sabbhineni Meghana (61) and Shafali Verma (51) also chipped in with half-centuries.
Rosemary Mair finished as the pick of New Zealand's bowlers with 2/43.
Needing 280 for victory, the White Ferns' run chase got off to the worst possible start, losing Devine for a duck, and Suzie Bates for five - reduced to 14/2 inside the opening three overs.
A 103-run stand between Amelia Kerr (67) and Amy Satterthwaite (59) resurrected the New Zealand innings.
But a middle order wobble saw the White Ferns falter from 117/2 to 166/5, leaving it up to regular opening batter Lauren Down - coming in at No.6 - to guide New Zealand home.
Down struck an unbeaten 64 not out from 52 balls, complete with five boundaries and two sixes, and found a valuable ally in wicketkeeper Katey Martin (35) as the pair added 76 runs for the seventh wicket in only 69 balls.
But Martin's departure at 247/7 still left New Zealand needing 33 runs from the final 25 balls, as Frances Mackay joined Down.
Mackay hit a valuable 17 not out from 12 balls, and reduced the target from 18 needed from 12 to six from six.
And with just a run a ball to target in the final over, Down made sure to seal victory as quickly as possible, sending Sharma over the ropes at long-off for six, wrapping up the win with five balls to spare.
Victory means the final two matches of the series will be dead rubbers, giving the White Ferns ample opportunity to experiment with combinations leading into the World Cup.
"The cricket we have played has been outstanding," Devine says of the series win.
"The way the batters handled the run chase, it could have gone away from us. We don't get too nervous about chasing down big scores.
"We set ourselves high standards in the field. Really impressive the way the group stuck with it. Consistency screamed out.
"We want to continue the trend of scoring 270-plus. I would have liked to have added a few more. But the way they went about was a huge step.
"It was special, and the group should be proud of it."
The White Ferns meet India again for the fourth ODI on Tuesday, before the series finale on Thursday.
New Zealand 280/7 (Amelia Kerr 67, Down 64 not out; Goswami 3/47)
India 279 all out (Sharma 69 not out, Meghana 61; Mair 2/43)
