Im Aussie, and I work for AirNZ... Applied while I was living in Australia, in fact had never even set foot in NZ before the interviews. Used my Australian address and yeah...
Suppose, what Im getting at, is that I dont see what they're (Rob & co) are on about when they send those emails?! AirNZ have always, and will continue to I imagine (untill they exclude trans-tasman rivalries from the discrimination laws), interview and hire Australians, as quite frankly, we're prettier, and far more "Kiwi" than some of them!
(note the friendly sarcasm!)