The Kiwis have produced an impressive performance in wet conditions to down a tenacious Mate Ma'a Tonga side in front of packed-out Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
In a game of two halves, New Zealand did the majority of their scoring in an action-packed first half, which saw enterprising play from both teams.
The Kiwis almost opened the scoring inside the first two minutes but for the final pass only to be batted down with the try line begging.
But it wouldn't take long before New Zealand opened the scoring with Jahrome Hughes somehow dotting down with Tongan bodies all over the ball just moments later.
Dylan Brown was then put in a hole after some nice feet from Jesse Bromwich, before he linked up with Jordan Rapana to send his winger over for the try underneath the sticks.
The visitors would hit back through an unmarked Sione Katoa after some quick passes by the Tongan backline allowed the winger to score in the corner.
The game was played at a frantic pace, and a Tongan penalty right on their own try-line would bring a welcomed breather for both sides, before Rapana slotted the goal to extend the lead.
The veteran winger almost went over for his second but for a brilliant try-saving tackle by State of Origin discard, Kotoni Staggs.
Tongan winger Christian Tuipulotu would be penalised and sin-binned for holding on too long as he tried to smother Rapana in the corner to prevent the quick play.
The Kiwis would make the extra-man advantage play almost immediately as debutant winger Ronaldo Mulitalo produced an acrobatic finish in the corner to score the try and give the Kiwis the 20-6 halftime lead.
The second-half was a stark contrast to the first 40 minutes, with both teams playing at a much slower pace and guilty of unforced errors.
Isaiah Papali'i would score the only try of the second stanza after the Kiwis showed great composure in the lead-up, which allowed the front-rower to ride the tackle to reach out and dot down right on the white line.
New Zealand looked the more likely to score in the closing minutes, with Joey Manu racking up the metres from fullback but they couldn't find the killer blow as they closed out the victory.
Kiwis 26 (Hughes, Rapana, Mulitalo, Papali'i tries, Rapana conversion 4x, penalty)
Tonga 6 (Katoa try, Staggs conversion)
