Malaysia will meet India, who beat Pakistan 2-1 yesterday, in today’s final.
The Malaysians’ other final appearances were in 1985 against India and 2007 against Australia.
The Indians, meanwhile, will be featuring in their sixth final, having won the title in 1985, 1991 and 1995.
In the match against New Zealand, Malaysia started without defender Engku Abdul Malek, while Chua Boon Huat only came in after the break.
The Malaysian defence was reshuffled, with Mohd Shukri Mutalib, Mohd Amin Rahim, Mohd Madzli Ikmar and Baljit Singh getting the nod.
The first-half did not offer much excitement other than the two penalty corners each side earned, though nothing came off them.
Malaysia began the second-half strongly, earning a penalty corner in the 37th minute. Again they were denied by Kiwi goalkeeper Kyle Pontifex.
The hosts finally got their breakthrough in the 48th minute when Boon Huat got his stick to the ball off a Mohd Amin pass in the D.
But one minute later the Kiwis were back on level terms when Nicholas Wilson scored with a field goal.
The India-Pakistan game, meanwhile, failed to live up to its hype.
India skipper Sandeep Singh was the hero when he scored both the goals to put his team in the final.
His first came in the 28th minute when he converted a penalty stroke. In the 60th minute, he struck again off a penalty corner direct attempt.
Pakistan’s lone reply came in the 50th minute when Mohamed Saqlian notched his first goal of the tournament off a field attempt.
Sandeep is the tournament’s top scorer with seven goals to his credit.
Pakistan coach Shahid Ali Khan questioned the two penalty corners which led to the goals.
“The umpires made mistakes. Those were not penalty corners,” said Shahid.
“Still, we are pleased with our young players and I believe that the result could have been different had we converted our chances.”
“The game was played at a slow pace as India needed only a draw to make the final. So they played at a slower pace.”
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