Bates' 168 at Drummoyne Oval was a New Zealand record one-day international innings, beating Karen le Comber's 135 not out against Ireland in Dublin in 1996.
Bates said after the game the feat had not "quite sunk in yet" but it was "huge honour" to have set the record, especially at a world cup.
The 21-year-old student faced 105 balls, hitting 19 fours and six sixes.
Bates said the Pakistan bowlers made the best of what was a batter's wicket but she took advantage of any balls that were wide and made use of the ground's short boundaries.
"It has been pretty hot here today, but I think I was just in the zone and I just kept going."
She said she was not aware of the previous record, only what her previous highest score was (122 against India, two years ago), although the ground announcer made comment.
It was Bates' second one-day international century.
Bates, who is also a regular New Zealand basketball representative, and Timaru's Haidee Tiffen (100) combined in a partnership of 262, a New Zealand record, for the second wicket.
The White Ferns have qualified for the world cup final, against England on Sunday.
She said the team was "feeling really good" ahead of the final.
It lost to England earlier in the tournament so the team was "ready to get some revenge".
"I think on our day we can beat anyone," she said.
Australia was left to rue its poor start to the world cup, as it missed out on Sunday's final, despite crushing previously unbeaten England in the final round of Super Sixes matches yesterday.
The eight-wicket demolition of England at North Sydney Oval was easily Australia's finest performance in its six fixtures, but it was not enough to earn it a top-two spot.
Losses to New Zealand and India proved too big a hurdle for Australia to overcome, with New Zealand shading England for first place on run rate and a further two points back Australia doing the same to India.
India, which defeated West Indies by eight wickets yesterday, will now play Australia for third spot on Saturday.
New Zealand 373 for seven - innings facts
•New Zealand's second-highest one-day international total, after its world record 455-5 against Pakistan in Christchurch in 1997.
•Suzie Bates' 168 was a New Zealand record ODI innings, beating Karen le Comber's 135 not out against Ireland in Dublin in 1996.
•It was the third-highest ODI innings, behind Australian Belinda Clark's 229 not out against Denmark and England's Charlotte Edwards' 173 not out against Ireland, both at the 1997 World Cup in India.
•Bates and captain Haidee Tiffen's second-wicket partnership of 262 was a New Zealand ODI record for any wicket, beating Lesley Murdoch and Barbara Bevege's 180 for the first wicket against the International 11 at the 1982 World Cup.
•It was the second-highest ODI partnership for any wicket, behind England pair Sarah Taylor and Caroline Atkins' 268 for the first wicket against South Africa in 2008.
