New Zealand will again be required to chase down a world record fourth innings total, this time to avoid a 2-1 series defeat, after England batted throughout the third day to post 5-416 - an overall lead of 501.
New Zealand's major obstacle came in the form of centurions Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell, who combined for a fourth-wicket partnership of 187 that knocked the stuffing out of the local bowlers in the Napier heat.
Belying the fact they had gone a combined 52 innings since last passing double figures, Strauss and Bell came back into form at a vital time and all but secured a series win, barring a rogue change in the weather or New Zealand's batting form.
Strauss's previous hundred came 30 innings ago, scoring 116 against Pakistan at Headingley in 2006, while Bell had 22 knocks since notching 109 not out against West Indies last year.
Strauss reached his 11th Test century from 226 balls, while Bell, who dominated England's middle session of 0-135 in scoring 88 of those runs, was more attacking as he brought his seventh up from 150 balls.
Bell eventually departed for 110 off 167 balls when he was caught at mid-off from Daniel Vettori's bowling, but Strauss batted throughout the entire day on to be 173 not out at the close - passing his previous highest score of 147 against South Africa in 2005.
Highlights :
The pair came together at the fall of Kevin Pietersen's wicket at 3-140 when he was brilliantly caught by Ross Taylor at slip, also off Vettori, for 34.
Vettori was New Zealand's only successful bowler of the day as England piled on 325-3 after resuming in the morning on 2-91, finally exposing the McLeanPark pitch as a batsman's paradise after 22 wickets fell on the first two days.
The captain snared Pietersen, Bell and Paul Collingwood, caught and bowled for 22.
Apart from a short period with the second new ball, where Martin got the ball to fly past the edge, New Zealand's bowlers were ineffective and erred regularly from the desired line and length.
Vettori had figures of 3-135 from 40 overs, while Martin (1-60) and Jeetan Patel (1-76) are the other wicket-takers.
An even tougher prospect faces New Zealand than the previous Test in Wellington, where it was required to pursue what would've been a world record fourth innings chase of 438, eventually falling 126 runs short.
The West Indies hold the existing mark after scoring 7-418 to beat Australia at St John's in 2003. New Zealand has also never reached a higher total than 451 in the fourth innings, which it scored in a 98-run losing effort in 2002 when Nathan Astle scored 222 against England in Christchurch
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