Halfback Piri Weepu found space down the Australian right wing from a ruck, and a couple of phases later Ma'a Nonu barged over from a ruck. Carter's conversion gave the All Blacks a 10-0 lead.
The Wallabies nearly scored from their first opportunity 17 minutes into the half, but Rocky Elsom was forced into touch near the goal line.
Five minutes later, Digby Ioane just failed to overhaul a Quade Cooper crossfield kick before it went into touch-in-goal.
Their inability to take their chances came back to haunt them after 26 minutes when Keven Mealamu forced his way over from a ruck near the posts. Carter's conversion made it 17-0.
Three missed penalties from James O'Connor on both sides of halftime kept the Wallabies scoreless, and the lead was stretched to 20 with a Carter drop goal shortly after halftime.
But just as the Wallabies' ill fortunes prompted the crowd to start a Mexican wave, they struck.
A turnover on their 10m line allowed them to put Digby Ioane into the clear, and he raced around Mils Muliaina with an in-out swerve to score 10m from the right wing corner. Cooper landed the conversion.
The home team's response was immediate. From the kick-off, Conrad Smith pounced on a loose ball and sprinted down the touchline before setting up Sitiveni Sivivatu to score from his in-pass.
Carter landed the sideline conversion to restore the 20 point margin.
A Carter penalty stretched the score to 30-7 before a late Rocky Elsom try for the Wallabies brought the final score to 30-14.
Most of the All Blacks did their job well, though they will have some concern at the lost lineouts and scrum penalties conceded.
Halfback Will Genia and the elusive Ioane were probably the best players for the Wallabies.
New Zealand 30 (Ma'a Nonu, Keven Mealamu, Sitiveni Sivivatu tries; Dan Carter 3 con, 2 pen, dropped goal) Australia 14 (Digby Ioane, Rocky Elsom tries; Quade Cooper 2 con).
- NZPA
