A late Kyle Jamieson wicket has the Blackcaps in a commanding position at stumps on the second day of the first test in Mount Maunganui.
New Zealand where made to work for their runs but got through to a hardworking but commanding 431 in their first innings of the first test against Pakistan.
Abid Ali was on 19 with nightwatchman Mohammad Abbas yet to score as Pakistan fought their way to stumps at 30-1, still 401 runs behind New Zealand's first innings total.
After finally dismissing the hosts after tea, the Blackcaps had 90 minutes to bowl at the Pakistan batsman.
Shan Massod and Abid had negotiated a testing period from Tim Southee and Trent Boult but the introduction of Jamieson and the aggressive Neil Wagner put them under even more pressure towards the end of the day.
Jamieson made the crucial breakthrough when he had Shan caught by wicketkeeper BJ Watling for 10 when he was strangled down the leg side.
Watling said it was important to press home the advantage when play resumes on Monday but that Pakistan would be no pushovers.
"We have got a decent total on the board," he says.
"We have to come back tomorrow and put some pressure on them, take some early wickets and see where we end up.
"We're not expecting to run through them. They look like they're in for the long run. We will have to bowl well, accurately and challenge them."
With the hosts resuming on 222/3 with Kane Williamson on 94 and Henry Nicholls on 42. the Blackcaps piled on the runs in the first hour at the Bay Oval.
It only took 25 minutes for the New Zealand captain to bring up his 23rd test century with a typical picture-perfect cover drive for four off Naseem Shah to bring up the milestone off 261 balls - his slowest test century.
Pakistan had a strong final hour of the first session picking up Nicholls and Williamson in quick succession.
Nicholls was caught by Masood but replays showed the ball came off his forearm but the middle-order batsman decided not to review. It took a moment of magic to dismiss the classy New Zealand captain.
The skipper edged a ball from legspinner Yasir Shah to Haris Sohail, who took a stunning catch at slip and was on his way for 129.
Watling came in and steadied the ship with typically hard-working 73 while he marshalled the tail to combine for 150 runs for the final five wickets.
While Watling was taking New Zealand to a strong first innings total, dark skies surrounded Bay Oval. Showers and thunderstorms had been forecast for the afternoon and lightning could be seen in the distance at times, but the bad weather didn't eventuate.
Williamson top scored for New Zealand with 129, while tall left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi was the pick of the Pakistan bowlers, finishing with 4-109.
Blackcaps 431 - Williamson 129, Watling 73, Taylor 70, Shaheen 4/109
Pakistan 30/1 - Abid 19 no, Masood 10, Jamieson 1/5
Join us from 11am on Sunday for live updates of the Boxing Day test between the Blackcaps and Pakistan.
