I think the job options would be very limited in NZ due mainly to the small size of the market and a surplus of pilots - many with thousands of hours. You only have to check out the Air NZ website to see how competitive it is to work for them. When vacancies do arise applicants will generally be type rated with many thousands of hours.
The NZ market from what I can gather mirrors the US approach. Typically you would instruct building up your hours and then try and land a first job flying single engine IFR carrying freight or pax on smaller niche routes. Then if you are lucky it would be turbo prop. After that jets but you could be waiting a while as the market is just so small and the vacancies are not huge.
Australia is a much bigger market but again a big supply of pilots which is not helped with the Ansett collapse years ago.
A better option might be for your friend to stay here and get into jets through CTC or the other avenues build up substantial jet time and then try and get in on a direct entry route. I think Freedom Air in NZ might have been advertising not so long ago for type rated people.
The dunnunder threads have lots of information if you ask there.