Opener Devon Conway (79) and nightwatchman Jacob Duffy (8) were unbeaten at stumps as New Zealand led by 49 runs.
Conway and Will Young put on 162 for the first wicket before Young chopped on a delivery from Trevor Gwandu to be bowled for 74 just before the close — again falling short of what is proving an increasingly elusive maiden test century.
It was New Zealand's third-highest opening partnership against Zimbabwe, and New Zealand's first opening stand of over 150 in nearly three years.
Earlier, Matt Henry had carried on how he began in the morning session, bagging another five-wicket haul with five for 40 in 15 overs, while debutant Zakary Foulkes finished with four for 38 in a fine start to his career that featured some appreciable seam movement.
His fellow Black Caps debutant and seamer Matt Fisher picked up Zimbabwe’s last man Tanaka Chivanga, who chipped to Santner at mid-off, to also open his test wickets account.
Brendan Taylor top scored for Zimbabwe with 44, falling just when he looked on course for a more successful return to the team at the age of 39.
He was back after serving a three and a-half-year ban for breaching anti-corruption and anti-doping rules, and before the match spoke of overcoming alcohol and drug addiction to revive his test career, which began 21 years ago.
‘‘How good is it that three years ago, I couldn’t get out of bed and now I am here doing what I love, and that’s representing Zimbabwe?’’ Taylor said in an emotional television interview before the first day’s play.
After opening and batting through a testing morning session for the hosts and looking by far the most secure batter in his side, he was the fifth Zimbabwe wicket to fall when he steered Henry to Mitchell Santner at extra cover.
Wicketkeeper Tafadzwa Tsiga made the only other significant contribution with an unbeaten 33.
When play resumed last night, Duffy looked to attack, playing a number of belligerent pull shots mixed with some deft touches to accelerate the score.
With Conway — who was probably lucky to survive an lbw appeal from leg spinner Vincent Masakesa late on day 1 — also cashing in on some loose balls outside off stump, the pair quickly raced to a 50 partnership off just 61 balls.
Shortly afterwards Conway brought up his hundred with another flowing drive through mid-off.
It was the left-hander’s first test ton since January 2nd 2023, when he notched 122 against Pakistan in Karachi.
Duffy made his way to a spritely 36, with six boundaries, before trying to heave a short ball from Masakesa away for another only to pick out Brian Bennett, who took a sharp catch at short midwicket.
Conway was joined at the crease by fellow leftie Henry Nicholls and the pair steadily accumulated against Zimbabwe’s spinners.
Both took few risks, content to wait for and take toll of loose deliveries.
They moved to a second successive 50 partnership for New Zealand in 73 balls, and then cruised on to lunch unbeaten, looking largely untroubled.
At the break New Zealand were at 306 for two, already a lead of 181 runs, with Conway on 140 and Nicholls on 41.
Conway was strong through the off side off both the back and front foot throughout the morning, playing a number of classical drives and fierce cuts. He had 17 boundaries to his name as he went to lunch.
Zimbabwe gave six separate bowlers a crack in the morning session and though there was the odd hint of turn from their spinners, they rarely looked like making additional breakthroughs.
With 11 sessions still to play in the game, the hosts looked to be staring down the barrel of another innings defeat.— By Ben Allan, additional reporting Reuters
