The former Otago seamer took six for 40 on day two of the one-off test against Ireland in Belfast.
The right-armer, who plays his provincial cricket for Wellington these days, ripped through the Irish top order to set up a potential early finish in the four-dayer.
It took him just 29 balls to claim his maiden test five-wicket bag, and he picked up a neat little record in the process.
He broke Shane Bond’s record for the fastest five-wicket haul for New Zealand. Bond needed an extra 10 deliveries.
Smith’s effort has put the visitors in the box seat.
Ireland were routed for 179 and are 65 for two in their second innings. They need a further 246 runs to make the Black Caps bat again.
Earlier in the day, the Black Caps pushed on from 361 for five to post 490 for eight declared.
Tom Blundell scored another 44 runs to reach a career-high 186, and Dean Foxcroft was out for 98. He was trying to rush through to his hundred and made an error.
New Zealand promptly declared and unleashed Smith.
He trapped opener Stephen Doheny lbw second ball of the innings and nicked off Cade Carmichael four balls later.
Andy Balbirnie was next. He pushed forward to defend, but Smith nipped it back between bat and pad and bowled him.
Curtis Campher was powerless to get any bat on Smith’s next delivery. It darted back in and wrapped him on the pad.
Up went the finger and off went Campher.
Smith’s 29th delivery bowled Lorcan Tucker.
Zak Foulkes briefly interrupted the Smith show when he trapped Harry Tector lbw for 16.
That was the top six accounted for, and there were just 38 runs on the board. Four of the top six made ducks.
Andy McBrine resisted with 73 not out and found some support from Mark Adair, who made 40.
They put on 116 for the seventh wicket.
Smith picked up the wicket of Adair with a short ball, and speedsters Ben Sears and Blair Tickner teamed up to mop up the tail.
Tickner took both second innings wickets to fall.
The Black Caps are eight wickets away from victory and Smith has probably won the battle to play as the fourth seamer and bat at No 8 in the series against England.
From the outside, it appeared he was in a head-to-head battle with Foulkes for that role.
Smith is a more reliable batter, but Foulkes gets a lot of swing, which suggests he would be dangerous with the Dukes ball.
But Smith proved he can command the Dukes ball to dance as well.
