Carter yesterday grafted his fifth first-class hundred to guide his side to 334 for nine at stumps on day one against Otago at Bay Oval.
The home side lost a couple of early wickets but Carter got himself established and will resume this morning on 146 not out.
He found a willing support in Colin De Grandhomme, who blasted 60 from 63 deliveries.
Most of those runs were clubbed during a productive middle period for Northern Districts.
Otago bowled well in the morning and picked up five wickets during the third session.
But the visitors faded during that second session and De Grandhomme, as he has done at international level, took toll.
However, it was Carter who anchored the innings and who deserves the bulk of the credit for setting up a useful total.
Northern Districts boast a quality attack which includes test bowlers Neil Wagner, Tim Southee and De Grandhomme.
Batting will not be easy for an Otago side which may be low on confidence following a poor batting performance against Auckland at Eden Park Outer Oval last week.
Otago coach Rob Walter felt Northern Districts was marginally ahead.
"We’re not too unhappy. I think they have their noises in front but we thought we’d be happy if we could restrict them to around about 320," he said.
"So they are just in front at this point with a long way to go. It is a good wicket.
"We bowled well in the first and third sessions but they counter-punched in the second.
"Colin De Grandhomme scored quite freely, so it was kind of a topsy-turvy day, really."
Jacob Duffy and Michael Rae picked up three wickets apiece, while Nathan Smith was frugal.
He picked up a muscle strain, though, and was limited to 10 overs.
Anaru Kitchen took a stunning catch at gully to remove Joe Walter late in the day.
In the other games, Auckland was dismissed for 167. Central Districts is 81 for three in reply.
Seth Rance and Doug Bracewell claimed three wickets apiece to do most of the damage, while Mark Chapman scored a gutsy 54.
Canterbury is in a strong position at Hagley Oval. Fraser Sheat took five for 25 to help dismiss Wellington for a paltry 115.
It was his maiden first-class five-wicket bag and his side is 146 for four in reply.
