He and captain Ross Taylor, with 138 off 171 balls, shared a 160-run fourth wicket stand against an Australia A attack which lost most of its sting as the day wore on, those chosen for the first test squad given relatively little work.
New Zealand finished on 467 for six in their second innings, Dean Brownlie also helping himself to an unbeaten half century.
But the day belonged to the burly Wellington lefthander Ryder. His 10th first-class ton came from just 137 balls, and included 11 fours to go with his fence-clearers, adding up to 140 of his runs in boundaries.
He also eclipsed the New Zealand mark held by former captain John R. Reid.
His 48-year-old record 296, including 15 sixes, came for Wellington against Northern Districts at the Basin Reserve in 1963. The next best score that day was 24.
"I feel pretty happy with the way I went. I got a few out of the middle and scored a few runs leading into the first test so I'm happy with where I'm at," Ryder said last night.
Towards the end of the innings, Australia A were serving up pies from part timers. Ryder took 28 in one over from opening batsman Ed Cowan, including four sixes.
At one point, he struck six in the space of 11 deliveries.
Ryder spoke for the New Zealand team when he described the game as one in which "we got what we needed out of it. I think everyone's confidence is pretty high".
Ryder had gone into the match skinny on time at the crease. He was invalided out of the tour to Zimbabwe after straining a calf muscle in his first over during an ODI and missed the only test.
When he returned for Wellington this month he was skittled for a three-ball duck by New Zealand teammate Trent Boult, then made 19 in the second innings of a heavy defeat by ND.
Ryder made 22 in the first innings against Australia A, so yesterday's spectacular effort was a welcome return to form, and just as importantly valuable time in the middle ahead of the first test starting at the Gabba on Thursday.
Ryder's innings completed an encouraging last few days for the New Zealand batsmen.
The expected top six for the test have all scored a century in their last two games.
Brendon McCullum cracked 146 off 115 balls in the first innings against Australia A; Martin Guptill hit 195 not out for Auckland against Canterbury at Rangiora; Brownlie responded with 171 in the same game; while Kane Williamson hit an ND alltime record 284 not out against Wellington at Lincoln.
The test best is 12 sixes by Pakistan's Wasim Akram, on his way to 257 not out against Zimbabwe at Sheikhupura in 1996. New Zealand's Nathan Astle hit 11 in his remarkable 222 against England at Christchurch in 2002, as did Matthew Hayden for Australia, also against Zimbabwe, in his 380 at Perth in 2003.
