New Zealand, chasing 312 from 60 overs, was 220 for five, needing another 92 runs for the win when the test was called off with nine overs of the final session remaining.
The result ensured the two-match series ended in a stalemate after the first test in Dunedin was ruined by the weather.
New Zealand's run chase was effectively ended when McCullum was controversially given out for 19, leaving New Zealand 203 for five.
After the wicketkeeper walked off reluctantly, Jesse Ryder and James Franklin blocked out the West Indian attack.
McCullum's dismissal also brought the International Cricket Council's umpiring referral trial into focus after on-field official Rudi Koertzen and third umpire Mark Benson both adjudged McCullum caught behind, although television replays did not show conclusively he had edged a Jerome Taylor delivery to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin.
McCullum instantly chall-enged the dismissal but Benson eventually upheld it, though he was not equipped with decision-making television innovations to determine whether the ball took the edge: "Snicko" and the "Hot Spot".
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori, convinced both officials made a potentially costly error, said the umpires should have greater access to technology.
"It was clear he didn't hit it and for some reason the decision made was wrong," Vettori said.
"We could see clear daylight - Mark Benson is a fine umpire and he's done a great job for a long time but unfortunately this one was clearly wrong."
Despite McCullum being sawn off, realistically New Zealand was still some way from effecting a victory that might have been theirs for the taking had they been more accurate earlier in the contest.
Losing its last six wickets for 55 runs to only forge a 64-run first innings lead was one obvious failing, while Brendan Nash's century-plus fifth-wicket stands with Shivnarine Chanderpaul and then Gayle were instrumental in New Zealand being set a hard ask.
New Zealand was also left to rue Jamie How putting down Fidel Edwardslate yesterday before the tailender had scored.
The fast bowler ended up supporting Gayle for 27 time-consuming overs to add 70 valuable runs for the eighth wicket.
Captain Gayle, who pushed on from 146 overnight, breezed past 150 and at one point took a quartet of boundaries from an Iain O'Brien over as the opener again took it upon himself to lead his side to safety.
He eventually struck 20 boundaries and seven sixes during an 8-hour stay which ended when he edged a leg side ball from Patel on to McCullum's boot before he gloved the rebound.
Gayle faced 396 balls in recording the highest individual innings at the ground - demoting the 177 made by English opener Andrew Strauss in March.
Edwards hung on for 20 from 86 balls before he completed Patel's first five-wicket haul in tests when Ross Taylor took an edge at slip.
The offspinner upstaged his skipper to record five for 110 from 46 overs to improve on his previous best of three for 107 against England at Hamilton in March.
After ending the West Indies second innings at 375 before lunch, New Zealand embarked on its chase with intent despite facing a run-rate of 5.2 per over.
New Zealand lost Tim McIntosh for three and then saw Daniel Flynn run out for 33 before Jamie How, seeking atonement for a poor summer of runs, blazed 54 from 65 balls - a cameo remarkable for his progression from 26 to his fourth half century in just 10 deliveries.
He took a quartet of boundaries from one Edwards over and was also severe on spinner Sulieman Benn before one wafting drive too many found Gayle's safe hands.
How and Flynn added 54 for the second wicket before Flynn was stranded, while Taylor and Ryder kept the dream alive with 74 for the fourth wicket before the latter was trapped leg before wicket by Benn for 46.
McCullum survived referrals for turned-down leg before appeals on seven and nine but the West Indies finally got their man to leave Ryder the consolation of notching his fourth test 50 - 59 from 99 balls - his second of the match, before play was abandoned.
Scoreboard
WEST INDIES
First innings 307
NEW ZEALAND
First innings 371
WEST INDIES
Second innings (278-7 overnight)
C Gayle c McCullum b Patel 197
S Chattergoon c Taylor b Patel 25
R Sarwan lbw b Vettori 1
X Marshall c Taylor b Patel 18
S Chanderpaul c and b Patel 0
B Nash c How b Franklin 65
D Ramdin c Flynn b Franklin 6
J Taylor lbw b O'Brien 8
F Edwards c Taylor b Patel 20
D Powell lbw b Vettori 22
S Benn not out 4
Extras (2lb, 1w, 6nb) 9
Total (145 overs) 375
Fall: 1/58, 2/61, 3/106, 4/106, 5/230, 6/252,
7/272, 8/342, 9/363.
Bowling: I O'Brien 24 overs, 3 maidens, 90 runs,
1 wicket (4nb, 1w); K Mills 6-1-21-0 (1nb); J Patel
46-16-110-5; D Vettori 52-21-91-2 (1nb); J Franklin
17-3-61-2.
NEW ZEALAND
Second innings
T McIntosh lbw b Taylor 3
J How c Gayle b Edwards 54
D Flynn run out (Marshall) 33
R Taylor lbw b Benn 46
J Ryder not out 59
B McCullum c Ramdin b Taylor 19
J Franklin not out 2
Extras (2w, 2nb) 4
Total (for 5 wkts, 51 overs) 220
Fall: 1/8, 2/62, 3/96, 4/170, 5/204.
Bowling: J Taylor 13-2-67-2; D Powell 5-0-30-0
(1w); F Edwards 11-0-46-1 (2nb 1w); S Benn
17-2-54-1; C Gayle 5-0-23-0.
Result: Match drawn, two-match series drawn
0-0.
Man of the match: Chris Gayle (West Indies).
