Taylor reached his sixth test century on an increasingly flat Napier wicket, taking the Black cap's first innings total well past 300.
At the close, New Zealand were 331 for 5, with BJ Watling on 15 and Taylor on 111.
Earlier, Taylor and Brendan McCullum steered New Zealand through the second session of play against Zimbabwe in Napier this afternoon after the loss of Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson, but McCullum fell just after tea, 17 runs short of a century.
McCullum was out lbw for 83 off a delivery from Kyle Jarvis, leaving the Black Caps at 195/3.
Guptill, who struck a well-made 51, was earlier nicked out by debutant Shingi Masakadza, while Williamson found himself back in the pavilion shortly after a mix-up with McCullum led to the youngster being run out for four.
Guptill and McCullum put on 124 for the first wicket, the second century stand by the pair in tests after their 120 against Pakistan in Wellington in January last year.
Zimbabwe's rearguard action was brief though, and Taylor finished the session at a sun-drenched McLean Park on 41, while McCullum was unbeaten on 82, with the home side on 194-2 from 55 overs.
Leg-spinner Graeme Cremer was introduced in to the bowling attack in the 39th over of the day and despite managing to produce some turn and bounce he barely threatened Taylor and McCullum.
Taylor was particularly ruthless on Cremer and smashed 11 from the 49th over of the innings, including two glorious cut shots to to the boundary.
Earlier, McCullum and Guptill got New Zealand off to a solid start scoring almost 100 runs in the opening session.
Loose bowling early on from the visitors saw both kiwi right-handers find the boundary with an array of strokes in near perfect conditions.
The home side's progressed slowed down in the second hour of play as the Zimbabwe seamers found their lengths and New Zealand went to lunch on 98-0 from 28 overs.
Zimbabwe skipper Brendan Taylor won the toss this morning and invited New Zealand to bat, and his counterpart Ross Taylor would be thrilled with the start his men have made.
McCullum, who came in to the match averaging 40 from his previous three tests against the African nation, finished the first session on 44 and survived a close lbw shout in the fifth over from the bowling of Kyle Jarvis.
Zimbabwe reviewed the decision, but the umpire had made the right call and McCullum remained at the crease.
- Daniel Richardson
