New Zealand have begun their marathon summer of white-ball cricket with a straightforward five-wicket win over the West Indies in Whangarei.

The tourists rarely looked like defending their 248-9 at Cobham Oval, although the Black Caps lost wickets at regular intervals on their way to 249-5 with four overs to spare.

The match at Cobham Oval was the first of 23 successive limited-overs internationals scheduled on New Zealand soil.

The hosts continued their dominance from the 2-0 Test series triumph, setting up victory in the first three overs which were played out as maidens by usually dynamic West Indies openers Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis.

New Zealand openers George Worker and Colin Munro had no such restrictions in response, putting on 108 inside 17 overs before both departed within seven balls.

Munro blasted a typical 49 off 36 balls, while Worker - filling in for the injured Martin Guptill - impressed with his ODI-best score of 57 off 66.

Captain Kane Williamson reached 38 but it Ross Taylor's unbeaten 49 ensured the tail wouldn't be exposed unnecessarily in a relatively uneventful run chase.

There was no explanation for Gayle's non-appearance in the field, placing some doubt over the veteran match-winner's availability for the two remaining matches in Christchurch.

His batting departure for 22 came in the first ball of the 11th over and marked a remarkable return to international cricket for man of the match Doug Bracewell (4-55).

In the wilderness for more than a year because of knee problems, seamer Bracewell snared Gayle caught behind and then bagged Shai Hope for a golden duck with his second legitimate delivery.

Bracewell was relieved to come through unscathed, having been called into the squad as an allrounder in place of Colin de Grandhomme, who is on bereavement leave.

"It's been a tough road back but I did a lot of work over winter rehabbing and it's good to be back playing now," he said.

"The knee's still a little bit niggly but I've just got to keep managing it."

The other notable spell came from legspinner Todd Astle, who celebrated his maiden ODI appearance at the age of 31 with 3-33 off 10 overs.

Astle claimed the key wicket of Lewis, who was on 76 off 100 balls when trapped lbw while sweeping.

The other innings of note was a career-best 59 at the death from allrounder Rovman Powell.

Black Caps captain Williamson hopes Bracewell, Astle and Worker, playing his fifth ODI, can continue to make a case for selection.

"Doug's been a little bit in and out for us so, to come in and take some big scalps, was absolutely outstanding," he said.

"Todd was brilliant through the middle for us as well."

Worker's knock was important in pursuit of a "tricky" target on a slowing wicket, Williamson added.