I believe that the NZ CAA still allow MCA to perform recurrent training on the aircraft. This exemption expires 01/01/05.
After that date they have to perform recurrent checks on a simulator. The ATR42/72 sim in Bangkok is already NZ CAA approved (and has been for the past 2 years) as MCA perform their initial courses there.
As an aside - a 2nd ATR sim has now been installed in BKK