While there was plenty of movement for Canada's bowlers early on, deciding to field first after winning the toss, Martin Guptill (17) and Brendon McCullum still managed to add 53 for the opening wicket.
McCullum, who was in a particularly aggressive mood, regularly peppered the boundaries as Canada's bowlers struggled to find a regular line.
Jesse Ryder wasn't at his fluent best as he struggled in making 38 off 56 balls, before Ross Taylor came in looking to repeat his heroics against Pakistan on Tuesday.
McCullum deservedly reached his century, but fell soon after for 101, in the first over of the batting power play.
New Zealand need not have worried though as Taylor proceeded to take advantage of some disappointing Canada bowling, hitting six fours and five sixes in a brilliant innings of 74 from 44 balls.
The lower middle-order then had lots of fun, destroying Canada's attack in the final overs, with 17 runs coming from the 47th over, 19 runs from the 49th over and an amazing 31 runs from the final over, with James Franklin ending 31 not out from eight deliveries.
New Zealand finished on 358-6, the 11th highest total in the history of the ICC Cricket World Cup, although it was unable to surpass its own record which came against Canada in 2007 when it made 363-5.
In reply, Canada lost two early wickets as it slipped to 4-2, but after Hiral Patel's cameo (31), skipper Ashish Bagai and Jimmy Hansra rescued the innings with an impressive 125-run partnership.
However, the effects of the Mumbai heat effected both players, who both began to suffer with cramps, with Bagai hitting out to be dismissed for 84, while Hansra was forced to retire hurt on 53.
After a flurry of wickets, Hansra returned to the field to end 70 not out as Canada reached 261-9 off 50 overs, with the match having the ninth highest run aggregate in ICC Cricket World Cup history.
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