1. Inadequate building standards: Many of the buildings that collapsed or were damaged in the earthquake were built before modern building codes were in place. These codes are designed to ensure that buildings can withstand earthquakes, but many older buildings do not meet these standards.

2. Lack of public education: Many New Zealanders are not aware of the risks of earthquakes and how to prepare for them. This is due in part to the fact that earthquakes are relatively rare in New Zealand. However, the recent earthquake has shown that even a country with a low risk of earthquakes can be hit by a major disaster.

3. Overreliance on volunteer emergency services: New Zealand's emergency services are largely made up of volunteers. While these volunteers are highly skilled and dedicated, they are not always able to provide the level of response that is needed in a major disaster.

4. Lack of coordination between government agencies: The response to the earthquake was hampered by a lack of coordination between government agencies. This is due in part to the fact that New Zealand has a complex system of government, with multiple agencies responsible for different aspects of disaster response.

The New Zealand government has acknowledged these problems and is working to address them. The government has announced a number of changes to building codes, public education, and emergency services. The government is also working to improve coordination between government agencies.

The earthquake has been a wake-up call for New Zealand. The country is now more aware of the risks of earthquakes and is better prepared to respond to future disasters.