The White Ferns have fallen short in their run-chase in the second T20I at Nelson's Saxton Oval on Friday.
Replying to England's 149-7 in fine conditions, New Zealand could only reach 134-8 in their 20 overs, with Melie Kerr top-scoring with 44 runs from 36 balls, to fall in a 2-0 hole in the five-match series.
Needing to score at 7.5 runs an over for victory, the White Ferns made a strong start, with Suzie Bates (19 from 13) and Kerr adding 27 runs for the second wicket in three overs after losing opener Bernadine Bezuidenhout to a run-out in the second over.
Captain Sophie Devine, Kerr and Maddy Green continued to push the scoring after Bates departed but when Kerr was dismissed in the 15th inning just after New Zealand had brought up the century, the downfall came.
Brooke Halliday, Green, Izzy Gaze and Jess Kerr all fell in quick succession, leaving the White Ferns 108-8 after 17.1 overs, before Leah Tahuhu and Rosemary Mair added more respectability.
Earlier, Mair took 2-25 from four overs and Devine 2-30 from three as captain Heather Knight (56 not out from 40) helped England recover from being 77-6 in the 14th over to reach a defendable total.
The White Ferns will look to avoid losing the series in the third T20I at the same venue on Sunday (first-ball 1pm). The fourth and fifth matches are scheduled for Wellington's Basin Reserve on Wednesday and Friday.