Centuries from Dean Brownlie and Corey Anderson put Northern Districts in the box seat after day one of the Plunket Shield match at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval.
The Northern Knights duo made Auckland captain Rob Nicol pay dearly for bowling first with a third-wicket partnership of 158.
Auckland grabbed three late wickets to have something to show for a long day in the field with Northern strongly placed on 324/5 at stumps.
Mount Maunganui resident Brownlie, unwanted by the New Zealand selectors in tests since May 2013, showed why he should be considered when top order test places are being considered.
He batted right through the day in a masterful display of concentration and no little skill to record his 13th first-class century. His unbeaten 143 came off 265 balls and included 17 boundaries.