The New Zealand sevens team was soundly beaten by Fiji in the London Sevens semi-final but have done enough to clinch their 10th world series title.
Fiji overran the New Zealanders 31-7 on Sunday, local time, to gain a spot in the final against Samoa, who they eventually beat 38-15.
But New Zealand had done enough to put themselves out of Fiji’s reach on the season’s points table by beating South Africa 36-0 in the quarter-final.
Skipper DJ Forbes reached 100 career tries during the London tournament.
New Zealand earlier had clear-cut pool victories over Russia and Kenya by 49-7 and 24-0 respectively, before beating Argentina 15-10.
The London tournament was the final of the nine-match Sevens World Series.