The All Blacks started their TriNations campaign with a 32-12 bonus point thumping of last year's TriNations champions the Springboks in Auckland.
The All Blacks took a big step up from last month's form and gave South Africa a lesson in rugby on how to score tries as the visitors could only rely on the boot of Morne Steyn and never looked like scoring a try.
The Springboks scored the first points but once the All Blacks were on the board they were in control for the rest of the match.
The Springboks get another chance against the All Blacks next weekend as the two teams meet again in Wellington.
The Springboks may however be without Bakkies Botha after he headbutted (twice) Jimmy Cowan on the ground and then was later carded for another offence.
"I was surprised how poor we were," Springboks captain John Smit said when asked about the performance of his forwards.
"They played a very quick game and you can't tackle all night and expect to win," Smit said.
"We didn't get any control tonight but we'll be back."
The result means that New Zealand extended a 16-year winning streak at Eden Park, the venue for the final of next year's rugby World Cup.
The All Blacks have now not lost a test in Auckland since 1994 and South Africa's Springboks have not won at the ground since 1937.
The All Blacks looked to run the ball at every opportunity, which included Richie McCaw leading a counter-attack from his own goalline, and stretched the Springboks' defence until it snapped.
At half-time they led 20-3, forcing the Springboks to revert to their more traditional kick-for-position play after the break to earn territory from which Steyn landed penalties but were never able to cross the All Blacks' line.
Springboks lock Bakkies Botha made himself enemy number one for the All Blacks when he was seen to deliver a flying headbutt to Jimmy Cowan from behind in the opening play of the game.
Although it was caught on television and the big screen at the ground, it went undetected by the match officials.
However, the tough Springbok lock only lasted until the 12th minute before he was yellow carded for an intentional foul.
South Africa were ahead 3-0 from a Steyn penalty when Botha left the field and when he returned the All Blacks were up 10-3 from a Dan Carter penalty and a converted try to Conrad Smith, who finished off a Mils Muliaina break.
Carter stretched the lead to 13-3 when the All Blacks won a scrum penalty in the first set piece after Botha came back on, before Ma'a Nonu started and finished the second first-half try.
Nonu was able to regather his own chip kick, fed Joe Rokocoko who took play up to the Springboks' line and Nonu was on hand to finish off the move.
After two more Steyn penalties saw the Springboks close the gap to 20-9, the All Blacks scored their third try when Kieran Read, running from depth to take rucked ball, broke through four tackles to score.
Steyn landed his fourth penalty before All Blacks prop Tony Woodcock scored the bonus-point try on fulltime.
"We did right from the start what we had to do," All Blacks captain Richie McCaw said.
"We knew we couldn't afford to let them get in front because you can't play catch-up against them."
"We applied pressure and scored tries and that's what we had to do."
Final Score New Zealand 32 South Africa 12
Scorers
New Zealand
Tries - C Smith, M Nonu, K Read, T Woodcock
Pen - D Carter 2
Con - D Carter 3
Drop -
Cards -
South Africa
Tries -
Pen - M Steyn 4
Con -
Drop -
Cards - B Botha (12th min) Yellow
Referee: Alan Lewis (IRL)
Teams (15-1)
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Joe Rokocoko, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan; Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (captain), Jerome Kaino, Tom Donnelly, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Corey Flynn, Ben Franks, Sam Whitelock, Liam Messam, Piri Weepu, Aaron Cruden, Richard Kahui.
South Africa: Zane Kirchner, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, Morne Steyn, Ricky Januarie; Pierre Spies, Francois Louw, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Jannie du Plessis, John Smit (captain), Gurthro Steenkamp.
Reserves: Chiliboy Ralepelle, BJ Botha, Andries Bekker, Danie Rossouw, Ruan Pienaar, Butch James, Gio Aplon.
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