A late try to winger Leianne Tufunga has saved New Zealand the embarrassment of losing to minnows Fiji, coming from behind to win 18-12 at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle.
The Ferns have won three previous World Cups, but found stiff opposition in Fiji, who were making their first appearance at the international tournament on Sunday.
The Bulikula led 12-10 at halftime and held onto it for another 20 minutes until a Zahara Temara penalty goal drew scores level.
Fiji repelled the Kiwis time and again on their own goal line before showing a willingness to throw the ball around in attack.
Pre-match, fullback Cassie Staples said the Bulikula would play "with a fair bit of Fijian flair" and that they did.
But the star-studded New Zealand side, including former Dally M Player of the Year Raecene McGregor, relieved the pressure three minutes from fulltime with their third and final try.
It was McGregor’s perfectly placed corner kick that allowed Tugunga to accelerate, make the catch, and score in the right corner.
Earlier, the Ferns were out of the gate quickly with an Apii Nicholls cut-out pass in the second minute finding her winger Stacey Waaka unmarked.
Then it became a grind before Fiji scored twice inside six minutes – through Losana Lutu and Sienna Laing – to take a surprise 12-4 lead.
New Zealand replied in the shadows of the break with Waaka bagging a double, but the Bulikula were playing the better football to hold a slim lead at halftime.
