<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000719211
<NAME> NEW ENGLAND ZENITH FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 1
<NAME> NEW ENGLAND ZENITH BACK BAY ADVISORS BOND INCOME SERIES
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 276,758,485
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 267,338,189
<RECEIVABLES> 7,039,703
<ASSETS-OTHER> 4,752
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 274,382,644
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,281,257
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 702,957
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,984,214
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 278,658,115
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,602,770
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,799,337
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 10,004,928
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (7,845,173)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (9,419,440)
<NET-ASSETS> 271,398,430
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 10,647,606
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 639,010
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10,008,596
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,614,203)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,148,860
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 7,543,253
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 357,713
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 554,280
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (196,567)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,230,970)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (3,668)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 543,115
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 639,010
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 270,199,175
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 101.40
<PER-SHARE-NII> 3.85
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.98)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 104.27
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.47
</TABLE>
