The New Zealand market was down 22 points, or 0.8%, to 2740 at the close of trade on Wednesday.
Top stocks were mixed. Telecom was down 4 cents to $2.58, Fletcher Building fell 6c to $6.35, while Contact Energy was up 2c to $5.78.
The Australian share market closed marginally higher amid directionless trading ahead of the US Federal Reserve's monetary outlook meeting in the United States.
The benchmark S&P/ASX200 index was up 10.1 points, or 0.27%, at 3,807 points. The broader-based All Ordinaries index edged 9.2 points higher, or 0.24%, to 3802.2 points.
Japanese share prices ended slightly higher on Wednesday as a weaker yen and gains among commodity-related stocks helped the market to recover some of the previous day's heavy losses.
The benchmark Nikkei-225 index rose 40.71 points, or 0.43%, to 9,590.32. The broader Topix index of all first section shares climbed 0.77 points, or 0.09%, to 902.46.
Hong Kong share prices closed 2.02% higher, as investors grabbed bargains after a heavy fall in the previous session, dealers said. The benchmark Hang Seng Index closed up 353.78 points at 17,892.15.
