A dire New Zealand batting capitulation opened the door for the West Indies to win the first cricket Test in Antigua by nine wickets.
A draw was the likely outcome when the final day began but the Black Caps collapsed from 199-3 to be all out for 272, losing their last seven wickets for just 73 runs inside 32 overs.
Needing 102 in 46 overs to win the first of the two-Test series, the hosts strolled to victory.
They reached 102-1 in 19.3 overs, losing just Kieran Powell for 30. Fellow-opener Chris Gayle, who scored 150 in the first innings, raced to an unbeaten 64 which included eight fours and two sixes.
His comfortable innings was a far cry from New Zealand's labouring effort as West Indies pace bowler Kemar Roach claimed four of the seven wickets to fall on the fifth day and finished with innings figures of 5-60.
Aside from 30 from wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk, none of the New Zealand batsmen produced an innings of note although fellow South Africa-born teammate Neil Wagner lasted 103 balls for his 13.
It was Wagner's dismissal shortly after lunch that sparked a collapse, with specialist batsmen Kane Williamson and Dean Brownlie failing to reach double figures.
New Zealand captain Ross Taylor lamented the performance of his middle order in both innings but said the bowlers also had to shoulder blame for failing to apply enough pressure.
"The West Indies were going along at 3.5 (runs) an over and we weren't able to put the breaks on," Taylor told Sky Sports.
"They got to 550 and on a wicket like this, we were always going to be under pressure in that second innings.
"We have to be smarter in the way we play. We have to bowl in better areas and batters have to spend time at the crease and put pressure on."
West Indies captain Darren Sammy praised the bowling of Roach and spinner Sunil Narine, who was named man of the match. Between them they took 15 wickets.
He also singled out the dominance of Gayle at the top of the order in his first Test for 18 months.
The result was another low point in a tour that has seen New Zealand well beaten in both the Twenty20 and one-day international series.
The second Test starts at Kingston on Friday morning (NZT).
NZN