Another power hitting display from allrounder Colin de Grandhomme helped pull New Zealand into a reasonable position at stumps on day one of the second test against the West Indies at Seddon Park.

New Zealand had been guilty of squandering good work through the first three hours and at one point lost four for 35 in 75 deliveries.

However de Grandhomme and Mitchell Santner put on 76 for the fifth wicket to help push New Zealand to 286 for seven at stumps, having been sent in.

De Grandhomme cracked a 71-ball century in the first test win in Wellington and was at it again when the West Indians found themselves in a perfect storm.

They were behind on the over rate, therefore had to use offspinner Roston Chase.

He went for 17 and 19 in two overs as de Grandhomme bounced him for three sixes around the ground, including one extraordinary drive over cover onto the bank, and Santner planted him over the sightscreen for good measure.

The second new ball, however, did get both batsmen.

Santner was bowled by a good one from Shannon Gabriel, who then did the same to de Grandhomme, after making 58 off 63 balls, and finished with the days' best figures, despite being ordinary for much of it.

New Zealand had got themselves into a decent position shortly before tea before losing two quick wickets and it got worse when the third session began.

Captain Kane Williamson had fallen to a legside strangle; Jeet Raval, who had looked good getting to 84, edged Gabriel to the wicket keeper, having produced some quality drives and cuts and grasped opportunities against the short ball; Ross Taylor flashed at a delivery and touched a fourth catch to wicket keeper Shane Dowrich; and Henry Nicholls went lbw to give debutant Ray Reifer a first test wicket.

The West Indies bowling was poor in the first session, save the industrious Miguel Cummins, but got better through the middle period, when their tails went at getting some success.

Cummins finished with two for 37 off 17 overs; Gabriel took three for 79 but was very up and down; while Reifer did a tidy job coming in to replace the suspended captain Jason Holder and got his maiden test wicket on debut.