The Christchurch pilot started a 300km triangular course from the Omarama Soaring Centre at noon on Thursday, completing the task at an average speed of 162kmh.
She broke the previous record for a 15m glider of 158.3kmh held by a German pilot.
Wilkinson was helped by strong northwest conditions, one of the best gliding days at Omarama for some time.
The holder of a national record and the first New Zealand woman to fly a glider 1000km,Wilkinson had been aiming to set the world speed record over 300km for a 15m class glider for some time.
Now she has her first world record, she hopes to chase others.
"Competition is very public, but records are something you can quietly achieve on your own."
Once Wilkinson started work she obtained her pilot's licence with powered craft, then started flying tow planes for gliders.
"It's rather like starting driving a power boat, then progressing to a yacht. A powered aircraft you drive from point to point; a glider you have to use the conditions," she said.
Her record attempt had to be under official observation.
The 300km triangle from Omarama to near Mt Cook, then to Fairlie and back to Omarama, is fed into her GPS which then records the flight, checking turn points, time and speed.
Details are sent to the Federation Aeronautique Inter-nationale for ratification.
