The All Blacks produced a vastly improved performance from their first Test loss to beat France 14-10 in atrocious conditions in Wellington.
Ma'a Nonu scored a try as the All Blacks won the second Test to level the series, but France secured the Dave Gallaher Cup for the first time since it was introduced in 2000 by virtue of their five-point win in Dunedin last week.
The visitors had been looking to become the first French side since 1994 to win a series against the All Blacks in New Zealand.
First five Stephen Donald with two and Luke McAlister one, slotted penalties for the All Blacks.
Cedric Heymans scored a brilliant individual try down the left wing, beating four defenders after getting the ball in open space from 40 metres out for France.
Julien Dupuy added the conversion while Dimitri Yachvili slotted a penalty for the visitors.
Both sides failed to execute basic skills with too many handling errors and seeming inability to take the high kicks both teams used when they had a swirling southerly at their backs.
All Blacks coach Graham Henry says it was just "hell of a difficult" to play rugby in those conditions.
The All Blacks play Italy in Christchurch next week, while the French head to Australia.
