The Black Ferns have needed three late tries to see off France 31-12 in the second test in Whangarei - three weeks after crushing the same opponents 81-12.
The vastly improved tourists scored the opening try and trailed just 14-12 at halftime - a scoreline that remained the same until the 67-minute mark before New Zealand cut loose with tries to Amarante Sititi, Braxton Sorenson-McGee and Mererangi Paul, who completed a double.
The highlight was Sorenson-McGee's brilliant 60m solo try - delivering a reminder of the Black Ferns' scintillating attack in the opening match of the three-Test series in Hamilton.
Nothing came as easily this time for the home side, who were guilty of basic mistakes and took most of the game to quell a spirited display from the stung French.
Both teams had changed about half of their starting lineups from game one but it was France who adapted better, unleashing a much more combative display up front and better decision-making out wide.
Black Ferns co-captain Ruahei Demant told Sky Sport her team were braced for a much tougher contest.
"We knew that today was going to be a challenge and a really different game to seven days ago in Kirikiriroa," she said.
"I thought our finishers added awesome impact from the bench, to change the game and learn from the way we'd played the game earlier.
"Full credit to the French, the score definitely doesn't reflect how hard it was. I know there's a few sore bodies - for our girls especially."
French hooker Mathilde Lazarko opened the scoring from a lineout drive before Paul's first try, after an impressive methodical New Zealand phase buildup.
France wing Anais Grando had her team back in front after collecting a cross-kick to score but New Zealand responded again when wing Shyrah Tuiliau-Tua'a was on the end of the chain - adding a try to the four she scored a week earlier.
A key moment came in the 56th minute when Demant prevented Ambre Mwayembe from scoring after the impressive French forward powered over the tryline.
It was New Zealand's ninth win from 10 matches this year - the best record of any team after world champions England suffered a 31-22 loss to Canada earlier on Saturday to notch a second straight defeat against the Canadians.
The Black Ferns brought up 150 tests in their history, with win number 124 giving them an all-time winning record of 83 percent.
The series finale is in Christchurch next weekend.
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