The Hyundai driver held a 16.5 second lead at the end of day one, which was tempered by tricky driving conditions.

Opening stages were held on roads south of Auckland which were hard, bone-dry and strewn with loose gravel, reducing traction and accentuating tire wear.

By the latter special stages it became more a race of tactics than speed as drivers slowed to avoid having to take the lead on such conditions on Saturday.

But even he bemoaned his misfortune at having to lead proceedings on day two.

"The rally is really dry and slippery and we had a good road position, allowing us to follow the lines made by cars ahead of us," Eriksson said.

"Although it is a bit of a gamble, I decided I wanted to lead the rally by the end of the day and that's exactly what we have done and I'm delighted."

Road sweeper

But Eriksson and co-driver Staffan Parmander still joined other drivers in hoping for overnight rain to soften the road and bed down flying gravel and choking dust.

"I'm proud to be able to be the driver to lead a WRC rally for the first time for Hyundai," Eriksson said.

However his delight was tempered by his concern that he will be sweeping the roads for his nearest rivals on day two.

Defending champion Marcus Gronholm of Finland led the rally by up to 18 seconds early in the day but was one of the drivers who eased off the gas in later stages.

Gronholm, in the Peugot 206, was second after the eight special stages comprising leg one while former world champion Carlos Sainz of Spain was third in his Ford Focus, 20.5 seconds down on Eriksson.

Briton Colin McRae, also in a Ford Focus and another former winner in New Zealand, was fourth.

1, Kenneth Eriksson, Sweden, Hyundai Accent, 1 hour, 16 minutes, 19.5 seconds.
2, Marcus Gronholm, Finland, Peugeot 206, 1:16.36.0.
3, Carlos Sainz, Spain, Ford Focus RS, 1:16.40.0.
4, Colin McRae, Britain, Ford Focus RS, 1:16.49.9.
5, Petter Solberg, Norway, Subaru Impreza WRC, 1:16.59.1.
6, Francois Loix, Belgium, Mitsubishi Carisma GT, 1:17.4.1.
7, Francois Delecour (France), Ford Focus RS, 1:17.6.9.
8, Alistair McRae, Britain, Hyundai Accent, 1:17.7.2.
8, Richard Burns, Scotland, Subaru Impreza WRC, 1:17.7.2.