A 180-run partnership between Tom Blundell and Daryl Mitchell has the Blackcaps firmly in control after day two of the first test against England at Lord's.
The pair spared New Zealand's top order further blushes after another batting collapse had them 56/4 before they came to the crease.
New Zealand reached stumps at 236-4 with a lead of 227 runs with still six wickets remaining and three days to play.
Earlier, the Blackcaps removed England's last three wickets for just 25 runs after the hosts were 116/7 after day one, all out for 141.
Tim Southee grabbed two of those wickets to finish with 4/55 as the pick of the New Zealand bowlers. Boult also showed no signs of fatigue as he claimed the final England wicket of Matt Parkison to finish with 3/21.
New Zealand made a nervy start in their second innings, with Will Young, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham all falling in the first 13 overs.
But Mitchell and Blundell stepped up to put their team back in the contest.
The pair's resilient performance came as a huge relief to the Blackcaps, who were bundled out by England's fast bowlers for 132 in the first innings.
Wickets tumbled on a frantic opening day and in the morning session of day two but things turned calm in the afternoon as New Zealand looked steady with the bat.
The visitors then attacked in the evening session as both Mitchell and Blundell edged closer to centuries, while England were left trying to figure out a game plan.
Mitchell struck 11 boundaries for his 97 not out, and Blundell's unbeaten 90 included 12 boundaries in New Zealand's second innings fight-back, which put England under pressure before day three.
Debutant Matthew Potts, who took four wickets in the first innings, picked up 2-50, while the returning pace duo of Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad also bagged a wicket each.
New captain Ben Stokes also experimented with spin bowling by bringing on Joe Root and Matt Parkinson, who was Jack Leach's concussion replacement, but it led to no success.
Reuters/Newshub.
