South Africa's Dale Steyn continued his brilliant form to leave New Zealand on 187-8 when bad light brought an early close to day one of the second Test.
New Zealand were 84-1 at lunch after winning the toss on a blameless wicket, before capitulating to paceman Steyn.
Steyn (4-42) just missed a hat-trick after Andre Nel (2-42) had removed Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum.
Craig Cumming resisted longest to hit 48 before his cheekbone was broken by a Steyn bouncer and he retired hurt.
The right-handed opener attempted a pull shot, but was late with the shot and is unlikely to play any further part in the match.
The ball crashed into the metal grille of his helmet, which in turn cut his face, and blood dripped off the player's wound as he made his way from the crease.
New Zealand won the toss and elected to bat first on a sunny morning in Centurion.
They handed seam bowler Mark Gillespie his debut and batsman Lou Vincent returned to lend some experience to the batting order.
Shane Bond and Jacob Oram, both injured, were missing from the side.
South Africa, who won the first Test by 358 runs, named an unchanged line-up for the fourth Test in a row, again leaving out veteran Shaun Pollock.
After Makhaya Ntini had removed Michael Papps, caught in the gully off the splice of his bat, Cumming and Vincent put on 58 for the second wicket.
Vincent (33) was caught off a Jacques Kallis no-ball on 10.
And he continued to ride his luck in between some authoritative blows before top-edging a pull off Steyn to square leg soon after lunch.
After Cumming retired with the score on 101, Scott Styris survived for just eight deliveries before he was beaten for pace by Steyn to fall lbw.
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Perhaps sensing the brittle nature of the batting around him, Stephen Fleming proceeded to play some expansive back-foot shots, including a massive hooked six off Steyn.
Taylor came and went for 17, and having reached 43 Fleming was the fifth to go, with the total on 165, when an attempted lash over point off Kallis only reached Ashwell Prince at point.
There was even time for one more wicket before tea, when McCullum was caught in the slips off Nel.
Steyn had the ball at the start of the final session, and promptly ousted Gillespie and Iain O'Brien with successive balls.
But bowling at the renowned rabbit Chris Martin for his hat-trick, he hurled the next delivery down the leg-side.
There was time for just one more ball before play was halted for bad light, with 34 overs still to be bowled.
And when overcast skies were replaced by heavy thunderstorms, it was soon clear no further play would be possible.
New Zealand manager Lindsay Crocker on Craig Cumming's injury: "The x-rays showed what looked like multiple cracks in the cheek area.
"What that means in terms of how long he is going to be out and what is needed to stabilise the injury has yet to be determined."
New Zealand batsman Stephen Fleming: "The bowling is very good but at some point we have to be positive and put some pressure back on them.
"We attempted to do that and there were some good signs but once again we succumbed to some easy outs.
"It was interesting to see the nature of the cracks as the day went on. They were turning up at the corners a bit. We were surprised to see the amount of inconsistent bounce."
South Africa bowling coach Vincent Barnes: " "Their middle order play shots and they don't leave many balls alone. They give you a chance of getting wickets."
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