Having been dominated by New Zealand for the majority of the Test at Seddon Park and conceded a 122-runs first innings deficit, few in the ground expected England to still have a chance of victory by the end of the fourth day.
But left-arm seamer Sidebottom claimed England's first hat-trick since Matthew Hoggard achieved the feat four years ago against the West Indies in Barbados to leave New Zealand on 147 for eight by the close, leading by 269 runs with a day remaining.
Sidebottom struck in late afternoon just as New Zealand appeared to be heading for a declaration which would have put England under severe pressure on the final day.
He removed Stephen Fleming with the final ball of his ninth over and then claimed the scalps of Matthew Sinclair and Jacob Oram with the the first two balls of his next over to become only the fourth England player to achieve the feat in the last 50 years.
His efforts sparked a collapse of four wickets for six runs in nine balls and ensured New Zealand slipped from a comfortable 109 for two, leading by 231 with 18 overs of the day remaining, to 115 for six in just two overs.
It brought the momentum firmly back in England's direction after they had been dismissed for 348 shortly after lunch following another defensive batting display in the morning session.
England had resumed the fourth morning still trailing by 184 on 286 for six knowing early wickets would give New Zealand a stranglehold on the match and delivered another determined performance by adding only 61 off 33 overs in the morning session.
But their defensive policy paid off with England only losing Paul Collingwood, who had battled for four hours for his 66 before being given lbw to Oram shortly before lunch.
Wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose, who was playing his maiden Test innings, battled to reach 55, but fell just three balls after lunch when he drove at off-spinner Jeetan Patel and edged low to Stephen Fleming at slip for 55.
Steve Harmison followed to the next delivery when he attempted a pre-determined sweep shot which flicked off his shoulder into Fleming's safe hands.
Last man Monty Panesar lasted for 21 minutes but with the second over with the new ball - and the first of the day from seamer Kyle Mills - he ended the innings by hitting him low on the pad in front of the stumps.
England responded immediately with Ryan Sidebottom inducing opener Matthew Bell into edging behind off the third ball of their replay to immediately lift the tourists' spirits.
But How and Fleming forged a 99-run stand which appeared to have put New Zealand back on course for a declaration that would have left the tourists needing to bat for the remainder of the match to prevent an opening Test defeat.
Just as the pair began to open out as New Zealand set their sights on quick runs, Sidebottom broke the partnership thanks to a stunning catch at deep mid-wicket from Matthew Hoggard which prevented How claiming a six.
Former New Zealand captain Fleming, who had played superbly to reach 66, fell off the final ball of Sidebottom's next over when he was caught at backward point for the second time in the match by Alastair Cook.
Hard-hitting wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum had been sent out to try and score quick runs, but top-edged an attempted slog-sweep off Monty Panesar in the next over and was superbly caught by Andrew Strauss running back to mid-wicket.
That set the stage for Sidebottom's next over and Mathew Sinclair became Cook's second smart catch of the innings when he dived to his left to take the chance at gully.
It brought all-rounder Jacob Oram out to face the hat-trick ball and Sidebottom pitched the ball up and won an lbw decision to spark frenzied celebrations among England's players.
Panesar maintained England's momentum was grabbing a simple return catch to dismiss birthday boy Ross Taylor, who is 24 today, and then claimed Mills lbw as he tried to sweep to leave all results still possible on the final day.
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