New Zealand have fallen short in their quest for the Fast5 netball title, beaten 35-23 by Australia in the final in Christchurch.
Their trans-Tasman rivals led from start to finish, putting on a defensive clinic to shut down the hosts' long-range threats en route to a relatively comfortable victory, defending their 2022 crown.
The triumph is Australia's third in the competition's 11-year history. New Zealand have won seven total, but none since 2018. The event took a three-year hiatus from 2019-21.
New Zealand booked their spot in the final with a resounding 50-16 win over Jamica in their final round-robin game.
The New Zealanders scorched the Wolfbrook Arena court, shutting the gate early through the hot hands of Grace Nweke and Tiana Metuarau.
Nweke was perfect from the floor, netting all 10 of her efforts on goal, while Metuarau remained on target from distance, splashing all three fo her attempts from beyond the three-point arc.
In their opening match of the day, the hosts recorded a hard-fought 41-33 win over South Africa.
The sides traded leads early, before the Ferns ramped up their defensive intensity and converted that pressure into points at the other end.
Goalkeep Kate Burley led that charge with five interceptions, while Nweke was flawless from the floor, landing all 10 of her shot attempts.
Long-range specialist Amorangi Malesala stayed hot, sinking five of her seven attempts from two-point distance, while Metuarau (3/3) and Georgia Heffernan (2/6) also chimed in from deep.
In the curtainraiser to the final, England secured third place with a 30-22 win over South Africa.
