Australia sent England an intimidating pre-Ashes warning by ruthlessly killing off a negative New Zealand in drizzling rain and under floodlights.

Ricky Ponting led his world champions to a seventh straight series victory with a nine-wicket third Test thrashing inside four days at Auckland's Eden Park.

Ponting then attacked the Black Caps for their dawdling over-rate and questionable bowling tactics as Australia chased down 164 for victory in a minimum 33 overs in the fading light.

With wet weather forecast on Wednesday, NZ skipper Stephen Fleming attempted to prolong the otherwise inevitable and hold out for a rain-forced draw despite being in a nothing-to-lose series position at 1-0 down.

But man-of-the-match Ponting (105 & 86 not out off 84 balls) responded to the tactics in brutal fashion, hitting 52 runs off 36 balls after knocking back the umpires' offer of bad light.

Justin Langer (59 not out off 76) brought up the winning runs with an off-driven boundary in the 30th over at 5.55pm to sign off on a cracking 148-run stand and the six-week long tour.

Ponting was particularly disappointed by the go-slow.

"I think they were 11 overs down or something stupid like that," he said.

"If there was a chance of a result and a chance to get our guys home a day earlier I was going to do everything I could to make sure we did that.

"So hence the reason for staying out there. We might have put ourselves under a bit more pressure doing that but we got through it and managed to win the game in great style."

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