The Ukrainian combination set the early pace but as they faded both Germany and New Zealand hit the front. The verdict at the line was 37.157s for the Germans, 37.294s for the New Zealand women.
Last year's K2 500m champions Carrington and Caitlin Ryan completed the three second placings, unable to hold off Hungarians Kozak and Anna Karasz.
The New Zealand women held a clear 0.69s advantage at halfway but with five-time Olympic champion Kozak pushing hard the Hungarians drove to the line with win in 1:43.065, 0.023 ahead of Carrington and Ryan.
Germany's Jasmin Fritz and Steffi Kriegerstein took the bronze in 1:45.589.
Carrington later posted the fastest qualification time in the K1 200m,
The 29-year-old from Ohope blasted to heat one victory in 41.825, 0.927 clear of second-placed Dora Lucz of Hungary.
The second fastest of the qualifiers into tonight's semifinals was Jessica Walker of Great Britain in 42.244.
New Zealand's K4 quartet of Carrington, Imrie, Fisher and Ryan, bronze medallists last year, won their 500m heat, clocking 1:35.602. Germany were second in 1:36.195.
World and Olympic champions Hungary won the first of the heats in 1:37.234 to be fifth quickest overall.
New Zealand's sole able-bodied male representative, Quaid Thompson, making his first appearance at the elite worlds, finished seventh in the K1 1000m semifinal in 3:44.254. He will contest the K1 5000m on the final day of competition.
KL2 200m silver medallist para-canoeist Scott Martlew of Christchurch took second in the B final of the men's VL3 category 200m in a time of 52.348s with team mate Peter Cowan of Hastings fourth in 52.953.
