The All Whites have advanced their World Cup aspirations after beating New Caledonia 3-1 in Noumea.
With two games in hand, New Zealand has won a place at next year's Confederation Cup.
Striker Shane Smeltz scored twice in 10 minutes midway through the second half to break a 1-1 deadlock.
For a place in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, the All Whites now face a two-leg playoff next year against the fifth-placed team from the Asia qualifying zone.
