South Africa were all out for 95 in their first innings on day one of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday.

Their innings lasted less than two sessions after being sent in to bat in bowler-friendly conditions.

Matt Henry was New Zealand's chief wicket-taker with a career-best seven for 23 from 15 overs.

Zubayr Hamza top scored for South Africa with 25.

Matt Henry celebrated a career-best seven wicket haul as New Zealand rolled South Africa for 95 in their first innings inside two sessions. 

Tea was taken early when tail-ender Duanne Oliver was out for one to end the innings with Henry taking seven for 23 as New Zealand cashed in on winning the toss and asking South Africa to bat in bowler-friendly conditions. 

Zubayr Hamza, back in the South African starting line-up for the first time in two years, top scored for the tourists with 25.

Henry, whose previous best was four for 93 against South Africa four years ago, has struggled to be a regular member of the New Zealand attack where Tim Southee and Trent Boult have long been the new ball bowlers. 

But with Boult on paternity leave, the Christchurch-born Henry relished the chance to perform in front of his home crowd. 

With his fourth ball he removed South African skipper Dean Elgar for one with a ball that nipped away off the pitch. 

When South Africa looked to be showing some resistance with Hamza and Kyle Verreynne putting on 33 for the sixth wicket, Henry removed the pair along with Kagiso Rabada and debutant Glenton Stuurman in an eight-ball burst. 

Alongside Henry, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson and Neil Wagner each took one wicket.

Scoreboard

Scoreboard at the end of the South Africa first innings on day one of the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday:

South Africa 1st innings

D. Elgar c Southee b Henry           1

S. Erwee c Mitchell b Jamieson      10

A. Markram c Blundell b Henry       15

R. van der Dussen c Southee b Henry  8

T. Bavuma c Conway b Southee         7

Z. Hamzar c Blundell b Henry        25 

K. Verreynne lbw Henry              18

M. Jansen not out                    2

K. Rabada c Blundell b Henry         0

G. Stuurman c Blundell b Henry       0

D. Olivier c Latham b Wagner         1

Extras (b4, lb4)                     8

Total (all out; 49.2 overs)         95

Fall of wickts: 1-1 (Elgar), 2-20 (Erwee), 3-36 (Markram), 4-37 (van der Dussen), 5-52 (Bavuma), 6-85 (Hamzar), 7-88 (Verreynne), 8-88 (Rabada), 9-88 (Stuurman), 10-95 (Olivier)

Bowling: Southee 12-2-33-1, Henry 15-7-23-7, Jamieson 11-4-19-1, Wagner 9.2-2-11-1, de Grandhomme 2-1-1-0

Toss: New Zealand

Umpires: Chris Brown (NZL), Chris Gaffaney (NZL)

TV umpire: Wayne Knights (NZL)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)