Neither bat nor ball dominated and though the home side won by 90 runs it will want to improve in the batting department in the next two games of the series.
In compiling 248 off 48.3 overs, the Black Caps scored enough to win the game against a Zimbabwe side which is obviously still finding its feet at this level.
The Black Caps could have got 300 but lost wickets at vital stages and only Martin Guptill passed 50.
In reply Zimbabwe lost its first three wickets with just 15 runs on the board and were always facing an uphill battle from there.
Captain Brendan Taylor was the lone star with the bat for the visitors, hitting a massive six over the Otago Daily Times stand, but he was out the following ball, and the Zimbabwe hopes walked off the ground with him. They were eventually dismissed for 158 in the 42nd over.
The home side's bowlers showed plenty of accuracy and never let any of the Zimbabwean batters settle.
Sent in to bat, the Blacks Caps failed to muster a match defining partnership, although it recovered well from a shocking start.
Rob Nicol was dismissed in the first over and home town boy, skipper Brendon McCullum was out in the next over.
McCullum was adjudged lbw and though he challenged the decision it was not overturned.
Guptill and Kane Williamson steadied the ship but Williamson went for 35 when he chipped a ball back to bowler Shingarai Masakadza.
Guptill looked set for a huge score but Elton Chigumbura got one past him and rattled his stumps when he was on 70.
The Black Caps laboured at times, bringing up their 200 in the 40^th over.
Nathan McCullum and Andy Ellis shared a 57 run stand but like those before them the partnership was broken before any real damage was done.
Masakadza grabbed four wickets in what was a generally tidy bowling display from the visitors.
The Black Caps bowlers found a tidy line and Kyle Mills deserved his three wickets while Nicol made up for his duck with four wickets with the ball.
The sides meet again in Whangarei on Monday.
