England's pace attack skittled New Zealand for 161 runs before cruising to a nine-wicket triumph in the second test this afternoon to seal the series.
Matthew Hoggard, with four wickets, and Steve Harmison, with three, ended the tourists' resistance after an entertaining opening to the final day before England knocked off their target of 45 on an increasingly erratic Headingley pitch.
Marcus Trescothick (30 not out) pulled the winning boundary as England won in the run-up to lunch, securing an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
"We have got to go back to the drawing board. The series has gone. We have been well and truly outplayed," said New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming.
The series win was sweet revenge for 1999, when the New Zealanders beat England 2-1 on home soil. England, however, have since climbed from bottom of the world rankings to third.
English wicketkeeper Geraint Jones was named man of the match for his maiden test century in the first innings followed by an impressive display behind the stumps.