KEY POINTS:
When New Zealand face Australia it's akin to brothers having a backyard scrap.
The bigger sibling usually wins; the younger occasionally gets in a well-placed foot-trip and celebrates wholeheartedly.
The West Indies, India, Pakistan and South Africa have all offered distinct, different challenges down the years, as, more recently, have Sri Lanka. But England hold a special affection in New Zealand's cricket heart.
New Zealand's test debut was against England in 1929-30 and it took 49 years to finally win one.
In 88 attempts, New Zealand have won just seven tests against England - three at home - and even when not at their best, they remain formidable opponents.
The squads chosen for five ODIs, three tests and a couple of Twenty20 games next week are not the strongest England have fielded by a long shot. But they include quality cricketers who will ensure New Zealand need to be at the top of their game for the next few weeks.
The ODIs first. New Zealand hold sway 28-27, with a tie in Napier in 1997, from 59 games. It should be a competitive series between two hardworking, if not always inspiring teams.
England, under their new one-day skipper Paul Collingwood, arrived buoyed by wins over India and Sri Lanka in their past two series, but there are also fresh faces who are relatively untested.
New Zealand are coming off a couple of serious poundings in Australia and three soft wins over Bangladesh, hardly ideal preparation but it is what it is.
Much interest will centre on the selectors' big punt on beefy lefthander Jesse Ryder, who is being lined up to open with Brendon McCullum.
Ryder's has form off-field, but this is his chance to get his career moving in the right direction on it. Good judges rate him a gifted batsman. His job is to justify the selectors' choice.
McCullum's qualities are well known.
His most recent one-day innings produced a furious 80 not out off just 28 balls against Bangladesh in Queenstown. Okay it was only Bangladesh, but it was still some innings.
Indeed, McCullum looms as a key figure if New Zealand are to prosper in both series.
He's got the feisty attitude a team needs in the wake of recent departures - Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Shane Bond, Stephen Fleming (from the one-day game) - who took with them a hefty pile of experience.
New Zealand are a decent ODI side, a perennial World Cup final four contender.
The absence of Fleming and Bond does not help, but the Black Caps can have the edge on England, who will expect big contributions from the flamboyant Kevin Pietersen and the sturdy Collingwood with the bat, and James Anderson, Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad with the ball.
England lost their last two test series - at home to India and away to Sri Lanka - but there is a more formidable look to their five-day party than those who arrived this week for the shorter stuff.
What will New Zealand offer?
The bowling will be led by Chris Martin, who is certainly in good form, and, by his own admission, far better than the last time England saw him four years ago.
He will be supported by diligent workers, and much will depend on captain Daniel Vettori.
He will be hoping to get a chance to bowl with runs to work with rather than being permanently on the defensive as he was in South Africa before Christmas.
New Zealand's batting line-up has a large question mark hovering over it. Their work in their two innings against Bangladesh was not particularly impressive.
They struggled to cope with Shahadat Hossain and Mashrafe Mortaza and - with all due respect - the likes of Matthew Hoggard, Sidebottom, Steve Harmison and Monty Panesar will offer a far sterner examination.
Beating England at the Basin Reserve in 1978 will always be one of New Zealand cricket's great days. If not on that epic scale, the appeal of putting one over England remains strong.
