New Zealand lost valuable time to continue their push for victory in the first cricket test against England, but remain well in control with two days remaining.

Persistent drizzle forced players from the field at 3.50pm on the third day with New Zealand in total command on 402-7 in their first innings at Dunedin's University Oval.

That meant a lead of 235 for the hosts after they skittled England for 167.

Umpires Paul Reiffel and Asad Rauf ushered players off the field as drizzle became heavier, and conditions didn't improve as play was called off for the day at 5.15pm with 32 overs still to be bowled.

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum was unbeaten on 44 off 42 balls, including eight fours, while test debutant Bruce Martin was on 17 after surviving a short-pitched barrage from England's pacemen.

The hosts added 271 runs off 66 overs today, and lost seven wickets in the process.

New Zealand won't want to lose too much more time as they look to push on towards a lead of 300, then give themselves enough time to bowl England out a second time on a sluggish pitch still proving excellent for batting.

The forecast for the weekend, the final two days of this test, is for predominantly dry weather and it's highly unlikely England will bat as poorly second time around as they look to save the match.

A fired up pace spearhead James Anderson was the pick of the England bowlers, with figures of 4-108 off 29 overs. 

Stuart Broad had 2-89 off 24 while Steven Finn, on his former home ground, bowled 26 wicketless overs for 102 runs.

Opener Hamish Rutherford was the star of the day on test debut on his home ground, scoring 171 off 217 balls. 

It was the second highest score on debut for New Zealand, after Mathew Sinclair's 214 against West Indies in Wellington in 1999, and the eighth highest for all countries.

Rutherford was the ninth New Zealand batsman to reach three figures on debut, and the first since team-mate Kane Williamson against India in Ahmedabad in 2010.

He and the recalled Peter Fulton, who notched New Zealand's first century opening stand in 23 test innings stretching back to January 2012, added 158 for the first wicket before Fulton was caught behind for 55.

The rest of the New Zealand batsmen all got starts but couldn't kick on, with Williamson scoring 24, Ross Taylor 31 and Dean Brownlie 27.

Gloveman BJ Watling was removed first ball, bowled by Broad without offering a shot to one that angled back in, while Tim Southee (25 off 21 balls) helped McCullum add a quickfire 44 for the seventh wicket to push the lead over 200. 

- © Fairfax NZ News