Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson steadied a shaky BlackCaps innings with a 44-run stand as New Zealand eased to 152-3 at tea on the first day of the second Test against the West Indies in Kingston.
Missing Daniel Flynn with a groin strain, the New Zealanders lost replacement opener BJ Watling early after the West Indies won the toss and decided to bowl.
He edged Kemar Roach to first slip late in the fifth over, and was followed four balls later by Brendon McCullum, who snicked paceman Tino Best into the safe gloves of keeper Denesh Ramdin to leave New Zealand in familiar territory at 11-2.
Captain Ross Taylor dug in with Guptill as the Windies bowlers continued to extract plenty of movement off a pitch still holding some moisture from overnight rain.
The pair put on 103 for the third wicket before Best struck again, finding good pace and bounce as Taylor, sitting on 60, tried to cut - only to send a thick edge through to Ramdin.
With the Black Caps teetering on 114-3, Guptill and Williamson settled to rescue the innings and guided New Zealand safely through to tea.
The in-form Guptill, with innings 97 and 67 from New Zealand's first Test nine-wicket loss, looked solid in constructing 64 from 157 balls and Williamson provided good back-up with 18 from 55.
As well as missing Flynn, the Black Caps are without spinner Daniel Vettori - also sidelined with a groin injury - and have opted for seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee, resting Chris Martin.
As of 9am New Zealand time the BlackCaps were 177/6.
NZN