Australia has stormed to a comprehensive victory in the first Test against New Zealand, winning by an innings and 52 runs inside four days in Wellington.

The victory means Australia will hold on to the trans-Tasman trophy after maintaining dominance in the three-Test series at home in November.

While Monday’s result was not entirely unexpected, the apparent ease with which it was accomplished was a bit surprising.

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Heading into day four at the Basin Reserve, the tourists led by 201 runs and needed just six wickets to secure victory.

And, after ending day three by removing captain Brendon McCullum, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh (3 for 73) made the first breakthrough on what turned out to be the final day of the game when he produced a fine in-swinger to trap Corey Anderson in front for a 22-ball duck.

The next nine overs yielded 29 runs as wicketkeeper BJ Watling helped debutant Henry Nicholls to become the first New Zealand number four to score a half-century in his maiden Test.

But Watling (10) was gone four overs later when he played back to a Nathan Lyon (4 for 91) delivery that turned too far, caught his inside edge and sent his bails flying.

Unfazed, Nicholls (59) continued to fight hard and, despite falling seven overs later when Jackson Bird claimed his first scalp of the game by sneaking a ball between bat and pad to collect off-stump, the 24-year-old has made a good case for a second cap even if veteran Ross Taylor returns from injury.

Doug Bracewell (14) and Mark Craig (33 not out) showed some resolve to reach lunch, but the former was gone in the first over after the break when Josh Hazlewood (2 for 75) had him out LBW with a delivery that Bracewell’s review showed would have gone on to take the top of middle.

Adam Voges starred in the Wellington romp. Photo: AAP

Striding to the crease with his team eight wickets down and needing an unrealistic 137 more runs to make Australia bat again, Tim Southee gave the Wellington faithful something to cheer about.

With Craig looking safe at the other end, the number 10 belted three sixes and five fours in quick succession and came within a few metres of the second-fastest Test half-century of all time.

Unfortunately, he tried one slog too many and sent his 23rd delivery to Usman Khawaja at long-on, ending an exciting knock on 48 and giving Lyon his seventh wicket of the match.

Trent Boult (12) added some ungainly boundaries of his own before stepping across his stumps and being clean bowled by Marsh, officially ending the Test.

Issues across the board for Black Caps

New Zealand has some serious problems to work on before a ball is bowled when the second Test starts in Christchurch on Saturday.

Brandan McCullum and New Zealand have a series of problems to address. Photo: Getty

Having watched the bowling attack skittle New Zealand for just 183 before tea on day one, Australia proved there were runs in the pitch by piling on 562 over the next two days as three of the Black Caps’ frontline bowlers – Craig, Boult and Bracewell – conceded more than 100 runs.

This series was touted as one that would show up Australia’s inability to bat on lively pitches away from home, but the visitors made the bowling look sub-par in Wellington.

However, the vast majority of the runs were scored by the in-form Khawaja and Adam Voges, with skipper Steve Smith adding 71.

Questions remain over the technique and security of opening pair David Warner and Joe Burns, who fell for just five runs inside three overs to give New Zealand some initial hope early in the innings, as well as number six Marsh, who has not scored more than 34 in a Test innings since December 2014.