Parker's form this month since ending his international retirement and his solidness in defence have taken priority over Henson's creativity and place-kicking ability.
Gareth Thomas has failed to recover from a knee injury, so Kevin Morgan lines up at full-back in an exciting back three alongside wingers Shane Williams and Mark Jones.
There is an assured self-belief in this group that on our day we are capable of winning Wales coach Gareth Jenkins
The other changes to the side that beat Canada last Friday sees prop Duncan Jones and hooker Rhys Thomas taking over from Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees.
Wales coach Gareth Jenkins was in South Africa in September to witness New Zealand's only defeat - by a single point - in 12 games this year.
He has stressed the importance of matching the intensity of the All Blacks forwards to disrupt their relentless attacks, and hopes his players will feed off the emotion of the occasion to rise to the task at hand.
"There is an assured self-belief in this group that on our day we are capable of winning," said Jenkins.
"My view this autumn was to grow the squad's self-belief and identity. The coaching process has to be the brunt of how you build your team.
"Then you have the emotional process. There is a moment where you galvanise the responsibility and you create that focus and that switch has to go on.
"We'll have a 20-minute conversation. The way I coach, the technical process is very important but we have to have emotional processes as well.
"History is beckoning. Technically we are professional coaches but emotionally is what makes the difference."
Tri-Nations champions New Zealand have further justified their tag as the world leaders with impressive victories over England and France twice.
We are solely focused on finishing this tour with a bang New Zealand flanker Jerry Collins
A long, arduous season ends after Saturday's game in Cardiff but coach Graham Henry has rejected the opportunity to rest some of his key players.
The side shows seven changes - one positional - to last Saturday's 23-11 win over France in Paris as Rico Gear, who scored a hat-trick in the All Blacks' 41-3 victory over Wales a year ago, Luke McAlister, Conrad Smith, Ali Williams, Keith Robinson and Neemia Tialata all return.
Henry has described the selection as the one best suited to respond to Wales' threat, and inspirational flanker Jerry Collins has promised the players will not leave anything to chance.
He said: "We are solely focused on finishing this tour with a bang. There will be no thoughts of home or of the summer.
"We will empty the tank on Saturday and hopefully we can put together a good performance that will satisfy us over the summer.
"When you are away from home you just want to win, you do anything to win.
"Wales is a great place to tour and they have beautiful people but it would be one of the worst places to lose a rugby game.
"They would never let you forget about it."
Wales: Kevin Morgan; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Sonny Parker, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones (capt), Dwayne Peel; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones.Replacements: Mathew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Gavin Henson.
Wales: Kevin Morgan; Mark Jones, Tom Shanklin, Sonny Parker, Shane Williams; Stephen Jones (capt), Dwayne Peel; Duncan Jones, Rhys Thomas, Adam Jones, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Jonathan Thomas, Martyn Williams, Ryan Jones.Replacements: Mathew Rees, Gethin Jenkins, Alun Wyn Jones, Alix Popham, Mike Phillips, James Hook, Gavin Henson.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Rico Gear, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Byron Kelleher; Neemia Tialata, Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman, Keith Robinson, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw (capt), Rodney So'oialo.Replacements: Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock, James Ryan, Reuben Thorne, Piri Weepu, Nick Evans, Ma'a Nonu.
New Zealand: Mils Muliaina; Rico Gear, Conrad Smith, Luke McAlister, Sitiveni Sivivatu; Dan Carter, Byron Kelleher; Neemia Tialata, Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman, Keith Robinson, Ali Williams, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw (capt), Rodney So'oialo.Replacements: Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock, James Ryan, Reuben Thorne, Piri Weepu, Nick Evans, Ma'a Nonu.
