New Zealand (10) 16
Try: Reece, Savea Pen: McKenzie 2
England (10) 15
Try: Itoje, Feyi-Waboso Con: Smith Pen: Smith
New Zealand edged past England 16-15 in a thrilling opening Test in Dunedin to kickstart Scott Robertson's era as head coach with a win.
Damian McKenzie kicked two second-half penalties to overturn England's advantage after Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's try opened up a five-point lead for the visitors.
The sides were level at the interval as Sevu Reece and Ardie Savea scored either side of a Maro Itoje try converted by Marcus Smith.
England started brightly after the break and Feyi-Waboso's finish in the corner after some powerful work at close quarters gave Steve Borthwick's side belief of ending their 21-year-old wait for a win in New Zealand.
McKenzie, however, recovered from two missed conversion attempts in the first half to bang over six points to hand the All Blacks victory in their first game since last year's World Cup final defeat by South Africa.
The fly-half could have stretched the hosts' lead further late on but he was timed out of taking another penalty on the shot clock.
England will look to avenge their defeat in the final Test of the two-game series in Auckland next Saturday.
England knew the task at hand when they arrived in New Zealand, where they have not tasted victory since the golden era in the summer before their only World Cup success in 2003.
Victory over Japan in their opening game of the summer tour would have given them and star fly-half Smith confidence of success, and, on this evidence, England can match it with the very best.
The blitz defence continues to develop under the tutelage of Felix Jones and caused New Zealand problems, although it was breached early on through Reece, who latched on to McKenzie’s accurate crossfield kick.
The visitors fired back with a well-prepared line-out as the All Blacks set up to defend a mall before England moved it quickly for Chandler Cunningham-South to power towards the line. The flanker was hauled down just short but Itoje picked up and smashed over from close range.
The ever-reliable Ben Earl was then caught out by the fleet-footed Stephen Perofeta - a surprise selection at full-back over two-time world player of the year Beauden Barrett - who fed Savea to cross out wide.
Smith missed a penalty to hand England an early lead after half-time, but he quickly responded with an excellent delayed pass to set Cunningham-South through in midfield before firing the pass wide for Feyi-Waboso to score his third try in five Tests.
Smith missed the conversion, which proved to be decisive, but England will be buoyed by their performance and intent to attack in range of the tryline.
More to follow.
New Zealand: Perofeta; Reece, Ioane, J Barrett, Tele'a; McKenzie, Perenara; De Groot, Taylor, Lomax, S Barrett (capt), Tuipulotu, Finau, Papali’i, Savea.
Replacements: Aumua, Tu’ungafasi, Newell, Vaa'i, Jacobson, Christie, Lienert-Brown, B Barrett.
England: Furbank; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman; M Smith, Mitchell; Marler, George (capt), Stuart; Itoje, Martin; Cunningham-South, Underhill, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Cole, Coles, Curry, Spencer, F Smith, Sleightholme.
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)