England had to settle for a draw in the second Test as forecast heavy rain washed out the final day at the Basin Reserve.
The tourists were 49 runs ahead, with New Zealand 162 for two following on, after rain also restricted play to just 35 overs on Sunday.
But there was an air of resignation by last night that this match, like the first in Dunedin last week, would end in a rain-affected stalemate.
A Paradise Shelduck walks around the outfield
James Anderson took the only wicket to fall on day four, Kane Williamson (55no) and Ross Taylor sharing an unbroken stand of 81, and England therefore knew then they had only a slim chance of victory - even if the rain stayed away.
Instead, the remnants of Cyclone Sandra did their worst - and although the officials took no chances, play was finally abandoned at 2pm local time.
The series score remains 0-0, and the final Test in Auckland - starting on Friday - is therefore a potential decider.
New Zealand and England draw
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Four - Hawkins Basin Reserve(01 of38)
A New Zealand fan covers beneath a tarpaulin as rain delays play during day four of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(02 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck walks around the outfield as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(03 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck walks around the outfield as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(04 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck walks around the outfield as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(05 of38)
England's Andy Flower (left) and Alastair Cook return to the dressing room after inspecting the wicket as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(06 of38)
England's Andy Flower (left) and Alastair Cook inspect the wicket as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(07 of38)
England's Andy Flower (left) and Alastair Cook return to the dressing room after inspecting the wicket as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(08 of38)
England's Jonathan Trott looks-on as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(09 of38)
England's Alastair Cook looks-on as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(10 of38)
England's Jonathan Trott looks-on as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(11 of38)
England's Andy Flower reacts as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(12 of38)
England's Andy Flower (left) and Alastair Cook return to the dressing room after inspecting the wicket as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(13 of38)
A member of security guards the covered wicket as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(14 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck walks around the outfield as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Five - Hawkins Basin Reserve(15 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck walks around the outfield as rain delays play during day five of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
Cricket - Second Test - New Zealand v England - Day Four - Hawkins Basin Reserve(16 of38)
Wind blows the covers as rain delays play during day four of the Second Test match at Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand. (credit:PA)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(17 of38)
England's Matt Prior has a cup of tea as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(18 of38)
England's Matt Prior (L) jokes with New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(19 of38)
England's Matt Prior (L) has a cup of tea with New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(20 of38)
England's Matt Prior (L) jokes with New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(21 of38)
England's Jonathan Trott checks the weather as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(22 of38)
A coffee card retailer waits as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(23 of38)
New Zealand team team captain Brendon McCullum (R) speaks to England's Matt Prior through a window as rain halts play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(24 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: A duck walks on the covers as rain delays the start of day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(25 of38)
Grounds staff push the water off of the covers as rain halts all play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(26 of38)
Grounds staff push the water off of the covers as rain halts all play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(27 of38)
Seagulls sit on the covers as the rain stops all play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(28 of38)
A cricket fan waits in the stands as the rain halts all play during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(29 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck sits on the covers as the rain falls during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
CRICKET-NZL-ENG(30 of38)
A Paradise Shelduck sits on the covers as the rain falls during day five of the international cricket Test match between New Zealand and England played at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on March 18, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Marty MELVILLE (Photo credit should read Marty Melville/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(31 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: A duck walks on the covers as rain delays the start of day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(32 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of play on day five of the second test match between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(33 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of play on day five of the second test match between New Zealand and England at the Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(34 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(35 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of play on day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(36 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(37 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of play on day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
New Zealand v England - 2nd Test: Day 5(38 of38)
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 18: Rain delays the start of play on day five of the Test match between New Zealand and England at Basin Reserve on March 18, 2013 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)