New Zealand rewrote their record books when thrashing Zimbabwe in their one-off Test at Napier by an innings and 301 runs on Saturday.

The win was the biggest in New Zealand's history, they equalled the record for most wickets in a day's play involving New Zealand (22) and restricted Zimbabwe to their lowest first-innings total (51).

After their win over Australia in Hobart, it was the first time New Zealand had claimed successive Test victories since beating Bangladesh in 2007-08.

Chris Martin moved into a share of third place on the all-time New Zealand wicket-taking list with Chris Cairns (218) after taking 6-26, his best Test return, in the second innings to go with his 2-5 in the first.

Having declared after an hour's play on the third morning on Saturday, as BJ Watling hit an unbeaten 102 to score his maiden Test century, New Zealand bowled with sustained accuracy against a Zimbabwe side incapable of coping with the bounce the home team generated.

New Zealand took 28.5 overs to wrap up Zimbabwe's first innings after Martin set the rot in action with two early wickets.

Trent Boult took 2-24, Doug Bracewell 2-12, Daniel Vettori 1-2 and Tim Southee 2-8. Backing their efforts was some tidy catching at third slip where Dean Brownlie held four catches.

Zimbabwe were asked to follow-on by stand-in New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum and Martin struck again to scythe through the top-order with three wickets for nine runs from five overs.

What Zimbabwean resistance there was came from Regis Chakabva and Graeme Cremer who put down an anchor during their seventh-wicket stand of 63 before Cremer holed out hitting a ball to mid-on fieldsman Bracewell from part-time off-spinner Kane Williamson when on 26.

Chakabva, playing his second Test, went on to score his maiden half-century off 82 balls in 115 minutes.

Another 34 were added with Shingi Masakadza who fell when Martin was reintroduced as the extra half-hour was afforded to New Zealand with the end of match in sight.

Masakadza edged a ball to Watling and was given out, but immediately sought a review although it didn't help him.

Chakabva was the penultimate wicket to fall, for 63, when he was well caught by Brownlie leaping to catch a ball over his head from Martin.

The next ball, the veteran paceman claimed Brian Vitori, caught by Watling.

Earlier, Watling joined the ranks of New Zealand's Test century makers by notching his 100th run in spectacular fashion after diving to make his ground and avoiding being run out by a single frame on the TV replay.

Watling was 52 not out when rain ended the second day's play and had cause for concern given rain had denied him the chance to score a century on debut against Pakistan two years ago on the same ground.

But with a 10am start and perfect conditions in Napier on Saturday, it was clear he was determined to take his chance this time around.

He lost Doug Bracewell to the third ball of the day when he was bowled by Vitori without adding to his overnight score of 11.

From the next ball, the first from the opposite end, Watling was trapped leg before wicket but he immediately referred the decision and the DRS revealed Shingi Masakadza had committed a no-ball after overstepping his mark by a significant margin.

Tim Southee settled in for four or five overs before unleashing an assault which yielded 37 from the last 19 balls he faced. Three fours in one over off Kyle Jarvis were followed by two more in his next over.

Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer was next in line for the treatment with a six and four before Southee hit out once too often and was caught in the deep for 44 from 39 balls.

Watling was on 78 when Southee departed but Trent Boult offered the Zimbabweans no chance of a quick breakthrough and stood firm as Watling worked his way towards three figures.

There was another alarm for Watling on 90 when he was dropped at gully by Hamilton Masakadza off Jarvis.

Clearly the message had been to get on with the scoring and once he got to 98 having taken four with a pull shot, Watling played to cover and set off with two in mind and was fortunate the return was high and the television replay showed he was safe.