The Black Caps pace attack of Mark Gillespie, Kyle Mills, James Franklin and Iain O'Brien had its moments during the test which ended in a draw yesterday after poor weather in Dunedin prevented any play on the final day.
The home side's seam bowling was, by and large, disappointing, with Mills arguably the only exception.
The Auckland swing bowler came into the side as a late replacement for all-rounder Jacob Oram, who injured his calf muscle the day before the test, and made a good fist of the opportunity, taking three for 64 from 24 overs.
"One minute you're on a test tour . . . then you come home and you are playing club cricket at Michael's Ave, where there was no food or drink at the ground, so it was definitely a reality check."
Mills felt he was in reasonable form on the tour of Bangladesh and was disappointed to be dropped for the test against Australia in Brisbane and then miss selection for the two-match series against the West Indies.
His team-mate Chris Martin was also left out, after the selectors decided he was not at full fitness.
His omission raised a few eyebrows and Mills said his Auckland team-mate was keen to regain his spot in the side.
"He is world-class on his day."
Looking ahead to the second test against the West Indies which begins in Napier on Friday, Mills said the attack would have to lift its game.
Having reduced the Windies to 173 for six, the bowlers seemed to relax and expect the tail just to fall over.
But Jerome Taylor and Shivnarine Chanderpaul put on a record seventh-wicket partnership against New Zealand of 153.
New Zealand would not make that mistake again, Mills said.
"Jerome Taylor hit the ball really cleanly and they've got three really quality batsmen in the top order in Chris Gayle, [Ramnaresh] Sarwan and Chanderpaul.
"If we can get those guys and don't let them get established, and get into their tail order, I feel like we have a chance."
Mills said the Windies tail had not shown much resolve recently and he thought the bowlers "expected it to happen".
"It is definitely part of our game we have to be on the ball with, come Napier."
New Zealand will need to exercise more patience and bowl good channels rather than trying to create wickets.
Gayle, the tourists' captain, said he believed his side would take the momentum into the second test after the superb partnership by Taylor and Chanderpaul, and picking up two quick wickets in New Zealand's second innings.
While everyone expected Chanderpaul to shine, Taylor's magnificent 100 was a bolt from the blue and a blow to the Black Caps morale.
"The most outstanding player was Jerome Taylor. He batted really well, getting his first test century, and all credit must go to him," Gayle said.
"I always knew Jerome could go out there and give us something big. We've spoken about it on many occasions and he just came into form in this game."
