England celebrate their Twenty20 victory in Christchurch

England won the first match by 32 runs and the second by 50, with commanding displays with both bat and ball.

"It is a great start for us. We can take a lot of confidence from these two games, I think all the players did really well," said Collingwood.

"We posted two good totals and defended really well. You can't ask for more."

Interview England skipper Paul Collingwood

The first of five one-day internationals is in Wellington on Saturday.

Collingwood took individual man-of-the-match plaudits in the second Twenty20 match with an important 54 following a clatter of quick wickets.

He said: "We could have played better in certain areas - we lost four quick wickets - but we regained the momentum.

606: DEBATE What a great performance, well worth getting up for! Sebwinder

"This is only the start. We have five really important games coming up and we want to continue our form.

"The bowlers have been fantastic in the last few months, in the home series against India and then in Sri Lanka.

"As a unit they're learning quickly and that's exciting for the future.

"It's important that we get the wins and keep the confidence going. Winning is a habit and hopefully we'll keep winning.

"We are learning quickly as a unit. It is great for the future. Winning is a habit and hopefully we will keep winning."

New Zealand's captain Brendon McCullum, standing in for the absent Daniel Vettori, refused to blame their defeats on a side depleted by injuries.

In the shorter version of the game it does not take a lot to turn it around Brendon McCullum

As well as the absence of leading bowlers Vettori and James Franklin from both matches, key all-rounder Jacob Oram also missed the second game with a tight hamstring.

"We were never really in the hunt. They put on a very competitive total and we never got going at the top of the order," he said.

"We are certainly not looking for excuses.

"The good thing is in the shorter version of the game it does not take a lot to turn it around.

"We have to put these two games behind us and make sure we come back stronger and more confident."

Ryan Sidebottom took five wickets in the two matches, bowling with superb control.

He said: "I expected the ball to swing [in Christchurch]. It didn't, so it was just a case of trying to bowl full knowing they had to try to hit out.

"Once we identified that I think we killed it. The one-day series is going to be tough but we're looking forward to it."