Shane Bond grabbed a rare ODI hat-trick on his return to Australia, but the hosts claimed a 105-run victory over the BLACKCAPS at Hobart's Bellerive Oval.
Bond became only the second BLACKCAP to take an ODI hat-trick - after Danny Morrison against India at Napier in 1994 - with the wickets of Cameron White, Andrew Symonds and Nathan Bracken.
Bond ended the innings with figures of four for 61, while Mark Gillespie picked up two wickets in his first tour appearance for the BLACKCAPS, and Craig McMillan and Jeetan Patel also struck.
But Australia’s 289 for nine - including half-centuries by big-hitters Andrew Symonds and Adam Gilchrist - was too much for the BLACKCAPS to emulate, despite Ross Taylor’s 84.
The run chase was ended at 184 with 11.3 overs to spare, giving the world champions a bonus point.
In the New Zealanders’ first game in the 2007 Tri-Series, Patel came into the BLACKCAPS side for Michael Mason.
Nathan Astle and Daniel Vettori returned having missed the side’s last full game, the defeat to Sri Lanka at Eden Park.
For the hosts, Tasmanian Ben Hilfenhaus debuted as cover for Glenn McGrath.
Australia made a great start, and quickly accelerated to 83 in 13 overs.
Veteran wicketkeeper Gilchrist put on 61 from 58 balls in an opening with Matthew Hayden.
Hayden was removed for 27 two balls into the 14th, his attempted cut clipped to Brendon McCullum off Gillespie.
Patel trapped Gilchrist three overs later, with the score on 104, and Gillespie took the key wicket of Ponting (21), with Stephen Fleming’s catch of his counterpart.
Symonds came in and showed his ability as a middle-order force with 69 from 70 balls, putting on 90 for the sixth wicket with White (45).
The two stroke-makers flourished in a 54-ball stand, which was ended with Bond’s flourish in the final over of the innings.
In contrast to the hosts, the BLACKCAPS lost openers Brendon McCullum (five) and Nathan Astle (no score) early.
Taylor enjoyed productive stands of 73 with Fleming (29) and 81 with Peter Fulton (39).
But with his dismissal in the 32nd over, wickets fell at regular intervals, with Symonds, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark claiming two dismissals each.
The BLACKCAPS take on England in Hobart on Tuesday, with Australia developing a significant lead with two wins from both games so far.
