The Black Sticks men have missed out on their first Champions Trophy medal, losing 5-3 to the Netherlands in playoff for third and fourth on the final day of the tournament at the North Harbour Hockey Centre.
The defending champions Australian then won a record fourth consecutive title, defeating Spain 1-0 with a late goal in the gold medal match.
Earlier the seventh-ranked Blacks Sticks came from behind twice in the first half, which ended 2-2, then levelled again with five minutes to go in the second.
But the third-ranked Dutch, capitalised a defensive error with three minutes to go and with a minute left the Black Sticks conceded the fifth goal after goalie Kyle Pontifex was taken off to throw everything into a final attacking gamble.
Nick Wilson, Simon Child and Stephen Jenness scored the Black Sticks' goals.
Germany finished fifth with a 1-0 win over Great Britain and Pakistan defeated Korea 5-4 in extra time in the playoff for seventh and eighth.
