Aviation jobs are few and far between in NZ really. Air NZ can be a tough nut to crack and aside from them, there's really on Pacific Blue and JetConnect. The other options are the much lower paying GA and charter type ops like Vincent or the Skydiving guys or the air safari guys or instructing. You get the picture.
I know it's similar in a lot of places, hour building and such, but the aviation community in NZ seems to be particularly tight knit. More often than not, it's a case of who you know not what you know or even what you've done.
Gotta take what you're given really, especially after paying for your licenses, ratings, medicals, etc. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.