There is an element of truth to this.. they have been looking at a merger of some kind. Not sure exactly what the latest proposal is, but there was talk of merging the seniority lists and making Air NZ the sole employer of all Pilots while still keeping Cook/Nelson intact. Was mostly a response to Link Pilots leaving I suspect, and was proposed about the same as the SO Cadetship which has since gone quiet.
As for Jets into the regions, it's obviously possible at a few ports while impossible at others. Hamilton and Palmy for example have both had Jets in the past, and can still be used as Alternates. Nelson on the other hand, is just too short so no idea where that idea came from.