"I have not built it up as a revenge series," Ganguly said on Wednesday when asked about the confrontation which has been dubbed as such by Indian media.
India were humiliated on underprepared pitches in New Zealand last year, losing both their Tests inside three days and conceding the one-day series 5-2.
Ganguly said: "We need to win like any other series and we need to play to our potential to win."
Ganguly, speaking at a charity function, said New Zealand could expect turning pitches for the series, but hinted they need not be tailor-made to suit India's key slow bowlers, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.
"In India wickets will turn," he said. "You go to England the ball will seam, you go to Australia it will bounce and when you come to India you expect it to turn on the fourth or fifth day."
Stephen Fleming's side arrived on Sunday to play two Tests and a one-day tri-series also featuring Australia. The first Test starts in Ahmedabad on October 8 with the second to be played in Mohali from October 16.
