Gibbs was dismissed for 80 just before the tea interval

Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs shared a record sixth century stand as South Africa made 231-2 on the first day of the second Test in Auckland.

Smith and Gibbs put on 177 as New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming's decision to put them in backfired.

They were both dismissed either side of the tea interval, Gibbs bowled by Chris Cairns for 80 and Smith trapped leg before by Chris Martin for 88.

But Jacques Kallis (39) and Jacques Rudolph (14) survived to the close.

The pitch provided less movement early on than the Black Caps had expected and Smith and Gibbs were able to settle into their strides with relative ease.

Chris Cairns came in for particular punishment, and was smashed for a six by Gibbs, as the Proteas reached lunch on 82 without loss.

Both openers brought up their half-centuries after lunch, Gibbs' 55 coming off 109 balls and Smith's 51 off 112 as they equalled the South African record for opening partnerships set by Trevor Goddard and Eddie Barlow in the 1960s.

The outfield was slow and there wasn't a lot of pace off the wicket to hit through Graeme Smith

A breakthrough finally came in the last ball before tea when Cairns, in his second spell, bowled Gibbs for 80 to take his Test wicket haul to 199.

But after Smith's departure, Kallis - aiming for his sixth century in successive Test matches - hit seven boundaries.

Rudolph was far more circumspect, managing just 14 not out off 87 balls in two hours at the crease.

South Africa went into the game with a side showing two changes from the drawn first Test - Nicky Boje and David Terbrugge replacing Paul Adams and Andre Nel.

Seam bowler Martin came into the New Zealand line-up, replacing off-spinner Paul Wiseman.

New Zealand: M H Richardson, M H W Papps, S P Fleming (Capt) S B Styris, C D McMillan, C L Cairns, J D P Oram, B B McCullum (Wkt) D L Vettori, C S Martin, D R Tuffey.

South Africa: G C Smith (Capt), H H Gibbs, J A Rudolph, J H Kallis G Kirsten, N D McKenzie, M V Boucher (Wkt), S M Pollock, N Boje D J Terbrugge, M Ntini.