Having done my time on 3 Sqn as a techie I can't believe the choices they have made, I'm sure the pilots will be loving it as it brings them into the 21st century at last but unless the flying budget has been quadrupled (which I doubt it has) then there are going to be a lot of pilots scratching for hours each month and they will barely stay current.
It will be interesting to see how the techies adapt to European machines that are nowhere as simple as the Bells. Suddenly those guys that had a wealth of experience on the older types are back to square one.
The only practical reason I could see for the 109 aquisition would be to train the navy guys as well which currently jump from the Bell 47 to the Seasprite.
I thought Squirrels for training and EC225s may have been more practical and proven helicopters for NZs needs (although helicopters with wheels are just plain wrong)
I hope the RNZAF get a good run with these new types because they have to make them last like the trusty old Huey.