On a ground they are unbeaten in their previous six one-dayers, New Zealand were sent in and finished the innings impressively to set the West Indies a tough task to win the game and square the series.
Left-hander Henry Nicholls turned in a breezy performance in the closing overs to reach his highest one-day score, an unbeaten 83 off 62 balls.
New Zealand began with a hiss and a roar, as left-handers George Worker and Colin Munro backed their century first wicket stand in Whangarei last Wednesday with another 50 today in 40 balls before Munro departed.
He had taken a six in consecutive overs from Sheldon Cottrell and Jason Holder before he tried for another hefty blow and was well caught by Jason Mohammed running across to wide mid on.
Neil Broom, brought in for the last two games of the series, struggled to get going, save a top-edged hook for six. He was well caught at second slip by Holder, but Worker got to his second half century of the series.
At 58, he casually pulled Ronsford Beaton to fine leg where Rovman Powell took the catch, giving Beaton his first ODI wicket in his second game.
Captain for the day Tom Latham got to 20 off 34 balls before edging a lifter from Holder to the wicketkeeper. Ross Taylor completed his seventh 50 of the calendar year, to go with two centuries, before being caught behind.
Nicholls used the DRS successfully to overturn an lbw decision against him and then went on to his third ODI half century, and with Todd Astle put on a rollicking 130 for the sixth wicket, a record against the West Indies.
Nicholls plundered 6,4,6 in successive Shannon Gabriel deliveries in the 48th over which cost the Windies fast bowler 22.
Nicholls was inventive in his strokeplay and Astle proved a good foil and when he swung Rovman Powell for six over fine leg it brought up the New Zealand 300.
The batsmen punched 58 off the last five overs to provide a sting in the final stages.
Cottrell finished with three for 62 while Holder took two for 52.
