The Blackcaps have fallen to defeat in the final of the Twenty20 tri-series, with Pakistan taking the contest by five wickets at Christchurch's Hagley Oval.
Needing 71 runs from the final 42 balls in chase of 164, a rapid stand of 56 runs in 26 balls between Mohammad Nawaz (38 not out) and Haider Ali (31) completely flipped the script, as Pakistan got home with three balls to spare.
Nawaz was named as Man of the Match for his innings, as well as taking 1/33 from four overs with the ball.
Pakistan took no notice of any sentiment in the Blackcaps camp, spoiling Tim Southee's 100th T20 international, in a game that also saw him draw level as the format's all-time leading wicket taker.
With four needed from the final over, Iftikhar Ahmed (25 not out) sent Blair Tickner over the fence for six, as both sides played their final international warm-up for the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia later this month.
Among few positives for the Blackcaps, captain Kane Williamson returned to form with his first half-century in any format since last year's T20 World Cup final loss to Australia, ending a wait of 344 days without raising his bat.
The Kiwi skipper topscored in the tri-series final, making 59 from 38 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes in his innings, but after the Blackcaps lost 33/4 in last four overs, 163 runs was all New Zealand could muster.
The next best score after Williamson was a 22-ball 29 to Glenn Phillips, as the rest of the Blackcaps order struggled to fire. Haris Rauf was the pick of Pakistan's bowlers, taking 2/22 from his four overs.
In defence of their total, the Blackcaps started strongly, led by Player of the Series Michael Bracewell and his 2/14 from four overs. Bracewell finished with eight wickets from five matches at a sublime economy rate of 4.94 runs per over.
A 25-run over from Ish Sodhi ignited Pakistan's charge home, as Nawaz, Haider and Iftikhar pulled the rug from underneath the Blackcaps.
Southee claimed the late wicket of Haider, caught by Mark Chapman at square leg, for his 122nd strike in T20 Internationals, moving him level with Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan as the format's most prolific bowler.
The loss was the Blackcaps' final official match before the World Cup, but New Zealand will have warm-up fixtures against South Africa and India in Brisbane before the tournament begins.
The Blackcaps kick off the T20 World Cup when they face hosts Australia in Sydney on October 22.
NZ 163/7 (Williamson 59; Haris 2/22) Pakistan 168/5 (Nawaz 38 not out; Bracewell 2/14)
