Erakovic led 3-1 in the second set but couldn't hold off the hard-serving Czech as the world number six advanced to the third round with a 6-4, 6-4.
Erakovic was looking to reach the third round in Paris for a second straight year but didn't help her chances after being broken in the opening game. That was Kvitova's only break point of the set but proved to be a crucial one as she took control of the match with her dominant serve.
Kvitova again broke Erakovic's first service game in the second set to go up 1-0 but the New Zealander broke straight back followed by her second break of the match to take an unexpected 3-1 lead.
But her lead was short-lived as Kvitova, a semi-finalist at Roland Garros in 2012, got the set back to serve and then broke again to complete the 6-4, 6-4 victory.
Kvitova, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, will face Russian 27th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the third round.
Erakovic now shifts her focus to the doubles with playing partner Arantxa Parra Santonja of Spain.
The tournament's 16th seeds face German duo Kristina Barrois and Annika Beck tomorrow in the second round on court 16.
