Ross Taylor and Mathew Sinclair were trying to rebuild the New Zealand innings after two early wickets as they chased a mammoth 479 to beat Australia in the second cricket test here today.
Australian captain Ricky Ponting declared at lunch with his side 511 for eight in their second innings, which set New Zealand 479 off a minimum 157 overs.
New Zealand's highest successful fourth innings chase stands at 324 for five against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1994, while their highest fourth innings total was 451 in a losing cause against England at the same venue in 2002.
Openers Tim McIntosh and BJ Watling made a bright start with a stand of 40 off 13.2 overs before a double breakthrough set the innings back.
McIntosh, on 19, was beaten for pace by a 150kmh Mitchell Johnson delivery which snuck between bat and pad and shattered his stumps.
Then four overs later Watling, who hit five boundaries in his 75-minute innings of 24, drove loosely at left-armer Johnson and got a thick edge to gloveman Brad Haddin.
Sinclair, playing his first test in two years, looked solid enough as he batted 66 minutes before the interval while first innings 81-ball centurion Taylor hit three boundaries in a brisk start to his 23-ball knock.
Ponting used five bowlers in the session, with Johnson taking two for 18 off six overs.
