Tom Latham and Tom Blundell got New Zealand off to a flying start as WI bowlers erred in their lengths.
Shannon Gabriel, in his 50th Test, learnt and made amends. He pulled back his lengths a tad bit to knock Blundell over.
Chemar Holder then got his maiden Test wicket when he eked out the edge off Latham's bat.
Henry Nicholls came into the middle and looked scratchy at the start, but found his fluency as he went along.
Holder plucked out a low one-handed catch to dismiss Young as West Indies.
BJ Watling got a start but was unable to convert his start, falling for 30 before Mitchel came in.
West Indies' bowlers created plenty of half-chances but the fielders didn't hold on to them and it cost them.
Chemar Holder broke the 70-run stand between Nicholls and Mitchell by trapping the latter leg before for his second wicket just on the brink of stumps.
Nicholls reached his sixth Test century, his first after 2019, leading New Zealand to 294/6 at stumps.