The Black Sticks will play off for the bronze medal after a heart breaking 2-4 shoot-out loss to Korea at the FIH World League Semi-Final in Antwerp.
With the score locked up at 1-1 for the entire second half, neither side could find a decisive goal in regulation time. Koreawent on to convert four of five shoot-out attempts while the Kiwis missed two of four.
The Black Sticks now go up against Australia in the third place playoff at 1:30am on Sunday (NZ time), with live coverage on SKY Sport.
New Zealand need to win the game to earn automatic qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics, while they have already earned a place at the FIH World League Final in Rosario, Argentina from 5-13 December thanks to their top four placing.
Head coach Mark Hager said it was disappointing not to be able to capitalise on the amount of possession they had.
"We had plenty of opportunities to win the game but weren't thorough enough in the circle and attacking third. They defended with lots of numbers and were desperate and we couldn't finish them off," he said.
"We didn't play as well as we have been and our basics let us down on a couple of occasions.
"It's so disappointing to lose in this way but at the end of the day we weren't good enough."
The Black Sticks opened aggressively and played an up tempo attacking style that had the Koreans on their heels in the first five minutes.
New Zealand earned a penalty corner midway through the period but Anita Punt's flick was well defended by the Korean runner.
Korea lifted in the second quarter and opened the scoring when Park Mihyun converted a stroke following a penalty corner infringement five minutes out from halftime.
The Kiwis responded immediately with Gemma Flynn scrapping for a loose ball in the circle and beating the keeper on the second attempt.
Neither side could find a deciding goal throughout the remainder of the game, and as time wound down the winner was destined to be found by shoot-out.
Earlier in the day the Netherlands progressed to the final with a crushing 5-1 win over Australia, relegating the Hockeyroos to the bronze playoff.
