The All Blacks Sevens' world series campaign is already teetering, after a shock 24-0 defeat to Samoa in their first pool match at the season-opening Hong Kong tournament.
Drawn in group that also includes the home team and Australia, the NZ men must now beat both to escape early elimination from an event they have won 11 times.
The contest against Samoa remained scoreless with halftime approaching, but a yellow card to Moses Leo for a high tackle swung momentum to their opponents, allowing Melani Matavao to exploit the mismatch.
After the break, the Pacific powerhouse ran in three unanswered tries, two of them converted, to complete the whitewash.
In the same pool, Australia overwhelmed Hong Kong 43-0 and face Samoa next, while the final pool game between the Aussies and New Zealand at 11:03pm Saturday will likely decide the Kiwis' fate.
Australia beat the All Blacks Sevens to claim the London title in May, but the Kiwis prevailed in the bronze-medal match at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July.
