Left-arm spinner Santner (7/53 in 19.3 overs) and off-spinner Glenn Phillips (2/26 in 6 overs) took nine wickets to demolish India after the hosts had looked comfortable at 50 for one.
Shubman Gill (30) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (30) had added 49 for the second wicket before six wickets fell for the addition of 53 runs as India were left tottering at 107 for 7 at lunch.
Santner then returned in the post-lunch session to dismiss Ravindra Jadeja and Akash Deep and Jasprit Bumrah cheaply.
Virat Kohli played the most forgettable shot of the morning to be clean bowled for 1.
Brief scores: New Zealand – 1st Innings 259. India – 1st Innings 107 for 7 in 38 overs (Shubman Gill 30, Yashasvi Jaiswal 30, Mitchell Santner 7/53, Glenn Phillips 2/26).
