This isn't a comment on the pros and cons of either countries workplace laws....
Air NZ must be looking across the Tasman with some jealousy at QF and the rest. Aussie airlines can just "stand down" everyone indefinitely on zero pay (unless I'm mistaken). Meanwhile Air NZ have been paying all their pilots at least 86% of their full time salary to do (in most cases) almost nothing. I have a friend over there who will lose their job at the end of July, they will not have worked a day for 12 weeks at the end of June, and the chance of them working in their last month close to zero. That's 16 weeks on full pay!
I know some people have commented that Air NZ moved quickly to get rid of people, but when you look at the above case you see their side of the argument.