New Zealand's 2-1 defeat to India in their pivotal third and final group match at the Fed Cup tennis tournament in Kazakhstan means they have missed out on the semifinals and will remain in Asia/Oceania Group II for at least another year.
Marina Erakovic won the second singles rubber after Dianne Hollands went down in the first to keep New Zealand in with a chance but Erakovic and Abigail Guthrie were beaten in the deciding doubles rubber.
New Zealand had earlier beaten Pakistan and Iran both by a margin of 3-0 but came unstuck against India, who should go on to win the Group II tournament.
It is the second year the Kiwis have competed in group II after a 15-year stay in Group I _ they were third in the tournament last year - and they twice made it to the Fed Cup quarter-finals (1965 and 1971) at the top level.
