JOIN USUltimately it was Southee's breathtaking Super Over, in which he conceded only six runs while taking David Warner's wicket, that won Kiwis the game.
Shaun Tait was entrusted with Australia's Super Over bowling to New Zealand's man of the match Brendon McCullum, who scored a stunning century, and Martin Guptill.
New Zealand survived two close run out chances but Tait buckled under the pressure and bowled two wides and it was Guptill who cut the third legitimate ball for the winning boundary.
New Zealand had earlier set Australia a target of 215 to win, the first time the visitors had conceded more than 201 runs, and the chase went right down to the last over.
Southee was entrusted with the last over having only 12 runs to play with. In the 18th over Southee had conceded a single per ball and another controlled display in the last saw him concede the 12 runs and set up the play-off. White hit 64 from 26 balls while captain Michael Clarke was run out off the last ball for 67 after playing a superbly controlled innings.
Earlier, McCullum matched West Indian Chris Gayle's effort in taking 50 balls to reach 100 and hit 12 fours and six sixes in the process but couldn't score the two runs needed to break the world record.
Score Board
NEW ZEALAND
B McCullum (not out) 116
Ingram b Tait 0
Guptill c Smith b Harris 17
Taylor (run out) 6
Franklin c Clarke b Smith 7
Hopkins hit wicket b Nannes 36
Oram b Tait 0
N McCullum (not out) 14
Extras (LB-12, W-5, NB-1) 18
Total (for 6 wkts, 20 overs) 214
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-62, 3-69, 4-77, 5-145, 6-164.
Bowling: Tait 4-0-40-2, Nannes 4-0-51-1, Harris 4-1-40-1, D Hussey 3-0-21-0, Smith 3-0-24-1, Christian 2-0-26-0.
AUSTRALIA
Warner c Southee b Bond 20
Haddin c Ingram b Franklin 47
Clarke (run out) 67
D Hussey b Franklin 10
White (not out) 64
Extras (LB-1, W-2, NB-3) 6
Total (for 4 wkts, 20 overs) 214
Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-100, 3-132, 4-214.
Bowling: Bond 4-0-27-1, Southee 4-0-44-0, Oram 4-0-52-0, Vettori 4-0-41-0, Franklin 3-0-32-2, N McCullum 1-0-17-0.
Super over: Australia: 6/1 (2, 1, 0, out (Warner), 1, 2) lt to New Zealand: 9/0 (1, 1, 1, 2w, 4).