The All Blacks are demanding better of themselves after a second stuttering display at the Rugby World Cup, seeing off stubborn minnows Namibia 58-14 in London.
The giant victory predicted by many didn't unfold at the Olympic Stadium as the world champions grinded through the gears against their 20th-ranked opponents, scoring nine tries to one.
Wingers Nehe Milner-Skudder and Julian Savea bagged two tries each for New Zealand, who led 34-6 at halftime.
However, they lacked rhythm against the committed Africans in a stop-start second spell.
"It's very hard to play rugby when you have a stop-start game like that. We got a little frustrated but we got through that and it was a good learning curve for us," All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said.
"I'm really happy for Namibia, we had them in the changing sheds and they're a good bunch of guys. I thought they acquitted themselves tremendously."
New Zealand skip clear at the top of pool C following their opening 26-16 win over Argentina which was also a patchy performance, sealed by a late flourish.
A team featuring 11 starting changes and led for the first time by flanker Sam Cane couldn't quell the fire of Namibia, who had lost their previous 15 RWC games, conceding 65 points on average.
Led by energetic flanker Jacques Burger, they were muscular enough up front to slow their big-name opponents and took advantage of their only real attacking chance.
Five-eighth Theuns Kotze landed three penalties before the biggest roar of the night was triggered by a 51st minute try to inside centre Johan Deysel, who powered through three tacklers.
Captain Burger says the key was not putting the All Blacks on a pedestal.
"They're special and incredible rugby players but it's that uncertainty of the deep ocean, almost," he said.
"You don't know what's under the water so you're afraid of it. We've learned a lot of lessons from that."
Hansen was pleased he has fielded 29 of his 31-strong squad, with no injuries of note to report.
Utility back Colin Slade was replaced in the second half because of a knee niggle while flanker Liam Messam was ruled out on Wednesday with a calf problem.
New Zealand surged 15-0 ahead inside 10 minutes through early tries to No.8 Victor Vito and Milner-Skudder.
Malakai Fekitoa and five-eighth Beauden Barrett - who finished with 16 points following a modest goalkicking display - scored tries before Milner-Skudder bagged his second just before halftime.
Savea snared his first try of the year before errors and stoppages began to plague the game in the second stanza.
They crossed only once while Namibian prop Jaco Engels was in the sin bin for a professional foul, through reserve fullback Ben Smith.
Savea snared his second before hooker Codie Taylor benefited from some outrageous quick hands from Milner-Skudder on the stroke of fulltime.
The All Blacks have an eight-day wait until their third game against Georgia in Cardiff on October 2.
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