Persistent rain has resulted in play being abandoned on the opening day of the test at Dunedin's University Oval.
The covers never left the pitch after 10.40am. The start was initially delayed due to poor light.
Highlights for the handful of die-hard onlookers were Kevin Pietersen scooting around the outfield on a Segway and a replay of Nathan Astle's 222 in 2002 on Sky Sport with onlookers huddled around televisions in what was a legitimate autumnal chill.
New Zealand won the toss and sent England into bat. When play eventually starts, left-arm orthodox spinner Bruce Martin and opener Hamish Rutherford will debut.
Monty Panesar has been named in the England team after Graeme Swann was ruled out with an elbow injury.
Swann will travel to the United States next week for an operation. He will then undergo a period of recovery and rehabilitation to try to be ready for the early summer against New Zealand and the upcoming Ashes series.
