Kemar Roach took four wickets as the West Indies dismissed New Zealand for 260 before stumps on the first day of the second test at Sabina Park on Thursday.
Roach finished with 4-70 and both Tino Best and Narsingh Deonarine took two wickets.
Martin Guptill top-scored for New Zealand with 71 and Ross Taylor contributed 60.
That left the home side having to bat five overs before stumps, which Chris Gayle and Kieran Powell safely negotiated for the addition of 11 runs.
An unbeaten 62 from Guptill earlier helped New Zealand to reach tea on 152 for three.
West Indies, leading the two-match series 1-0, struck two early blows before lunch in restricting New Zealand to 74 for 2 having won the toss and electing to field.
Guptill formed a fine partnership with skipper Taylor, punishing some wayward bowling from Roach.
The Black Caps' captain brought up his half-century off 91 balls, including eight fours and the pair reached another milestone with a 100-run partnership.
New Zealand were without spinner Daniel Vettori and also batsman Daniel Flynn owing to groin strains suffered in the opening Test which the Black Caps lost by nine wickets.
Guptill, who made 97 in the first innings of the opening Test, and recalled South Africa-born Bradley John Watling opened on a pitch moist from overnight rain.
But Watling had made just two when Roach had him caught at first slip by Gayle after a forward poke with the score on just ten.
There was worse to follow for the visitors as having added just a bye they had number three Brendon McCullum edged to wicketkeeper Denesh Ramdin for a duck of the bowling of Tino Best.
Taylor arrived to steady the ship with Guptill as they saw their side through to lunch without further loss having put on a partnership of 62.