A goal from Emma Kete ended the Football Ferns' 10-year barren period against Australia but the Matildas took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match trans-Tasman series with a 2-1 win on the Sunshine Coast on Monday night.
Introduced from the bench after just half an hour – with New Zealand already behind to a Kate Gill header – Kete immediately posed problems for Australia's back four, twice getting through on goal within minutes of coming on.
She hit an early shot straight at the keeper on her first attempt but made no mistake with a second chance in the 35th minute, latching on to a diagonal pass from Abby Erceg and outpacing Australian captain Cheryl Salisbury before rounding the keeper.
The deadlock was broken four minutes into the second half as the Matildas broke in behind New Zealand's defence with Amy Chapman finishing the squared pass from six yards out.
New Zealand's goal was their first against Australia since 1998, and the first from open play against a non-Oceania side since scoring against both Japan and Canada in 2000.
New Zealand coach John Herdman acknowledged the significance of the goal but admitted he was disappointed with the result.
"I'm proud that we're starting to threaten top quality sides from open play. It [the goal] is a really positive step but we're gutted not to push on," said Herdman.
"The players genuinely believe that the game was there for the taking."
"We're trying to change the culture and instila winning mentality so players aren't happy with a close loss no matter how strong the opposition."
Australia started stronger of the two sides, with New Zealand looking tired and sloppy by comparison, relying on a handful of fine saves from Jenny Bindon to keep them on level terms until Gill's opener.
Kete's introduction – and her goal – inspired New Zealand's best period of the match to end the first half although they did enjoy passages of sustained pressure pushing for an equaliser throughout the second.
The third and final match in the series is on Wednesday at 6.30pm (NZT) with Herdman looking for even more improvement before heading to Port Moresby for a winner-takes-all Olympic qualifier against Papua New Guinea on Saturday.
"We still need a little bit more quality in the final third but we showed glimpses tonight, with players like Erceg and Kete starting to really compete against a World XI player like Cheryl Salisbury. "
"We have some momentum but we have to keep building."