A slew of records were broken at the Basin Reserve on Tuesday as Wellington openers Luke Woodcock and Michael Papps piled on the runs against Auckland in the opening round of cricket's Plunket Shield.

Resuming on 246 without loss, in reply to Auckland's paltry 62, Papps and Woodcock went along at a good clip in the opening session.

The duo became the ninth opening partnership in New Zealand first class cricket to surpass 300 and in getting to 334, beat Bruce Edgar and Andrew Jones' best ever stand for Wellington, set in 1988-89.

By the time Woodcock was dismissed, caught hooking off Lockie Ferguson for 151, the pair had also set the highest first class partnership (432) in New Zealand cricket history, knocking over Jamie How and Peter Ingram's 428-run effort in 2009-10.

The previous highest partnership for Wellington against all comers was 346 between GP Burnett and RA Verry against Northern Districts in 1991-92.

By 3pm, Papps was on 286, his highest first class knock and 32nd century overall.

In Auckland's first innings, debutant Ollie Newton was the main destroyer, taking 4-26, including three scalps in his first over.

In other matches, Northern Districts are 155-2 against Central Districts in Mount Maunganui, with Daniel Flynn making 62 and Tim Seifert 77, and Otago are 188-8 in reply to Canterbury's 155.