New Zealand levelled the netball series against Australia on Saturday night, winning the second Test 43-37 with a powerful second-half performance.

Trailing 19-20 at halftime in Auckland, the Silver Ferns proceeded to shut down Australia's options in attack and capitalised when the mistakes mounted.

Australia coach Norma Plummer shuffled her goal shooters but none could score freely under the stifling pressure of New Zealand's formidable defenders.

It was a vastly improved outing by coach Ruth Aitken's team at Trusts Stadium after copping flak for tactical decisions in Australia's upset 51-47 win in the first Test.

Irene van Dyk was on song under the net with 25 goals from 27 shots while Sharelle McMahon top-scored for Australia with 20 from 24.

Plummer made one change to her starting seven, benching first Test top scorer Susan Pratley in favour of Catherine Cox at goal attack, while the Silver Ferns were unchanged.

New Zealand got away to a 3-0 lead thanks to a turnover.

The green and golds proceeded to a three-point lead as Cox and goal shooter McMahon withstood some heavy physical pressure in the goal circle.

A time-out steadied the Silver Ferns and a few turnovers in Australia's goal circle allowed the gap to close to 10-9 at quarter time.

Plummer then replaced Cox, who only shot at 50 per cent for the quarter, with Pratley.

But New Zealander defenders Vilimaina Davu and Anna Scarlett shut out the Australian shooters - causing turnovers and missed shots - to put the Silver Ferns three points ahead.

The Australians pulled it back again and, after a mid-air collision with centre Natalie Von Bertouch had Scarlett taken off, went three points ahead in front.

But sharp shooting from Maria Tutaia and van Dyk kept the Silver Ferns in the hunt to leave Australia up 20-19 at halftime.

The home side broke the deadlock in the third quarter as the Australians found it increasingly difficult to thread their way through the New Zealand defence, creating numerous turnovers.

The Silver Ferns had no such trouble at the other end of the court and led by a match-high six points at the last break.

Pratley and McMahon swapped positions for the last quarter but the women in black were in command by now and surged further ahead by as much as nine before coasting home.

The series will be decided in the final Test in Christchurch on Monday night.

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