Centuries by Kraigg Brathwaite and Darren Bravo put the West Indies in control at 5-310 at stumps on the second day of the second Test at Queen's Park Oval on Tuesday.
The West Indies lead by 89 runs in reply to the visitor's first innings total of 221.
Brathwaite's patient 129, his first Test century, and Bravo's stroke-filled 109, his sixth in Test cricket but first in the Caribbean, highlighted an excellent day for the home side.
Their fourth-wicket partnership of 182 was a new record for the West Indies in Tests against New Zealand and although both fell in the final hour of an extended day, the hosts will be confident of building further on a first innings advantage of 89 runs going into day three.
Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the man after whom Brathwaite modelled his phlegmatic style of batting, will continue the effort for the home side in partnership with Kemar Roach after what was a tiring, frustrating day for the visitors.
Their early removal of night-watchman Sulieman Benn, bowled off his pads by Tim Southee, proved deceptively encouraging as new batsman Kirk Edwards set the tone for the West Indies' positive resistance.
He blazed his way to 55 and dominated a bright morning session that produced 114 runs before falling to a catch at the wicket just before lunch in the first over bowled by leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.
His partnership with fellow-Barbadian Brathwaite was worth 93, yet better was to come for the West Indies through an afternoon interrupted by a sharp shower and deep into the final session.
Bravo hoisted four sixes off the spinners to complement 11 fours over an innings that spanned 155 deliveries, compared to Brathwaite's 258-ball vigil over more than six hours at the crease.
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