Pianokeys
AirNz have alienated Regional New Zealand by withdrawing of International services which they engineered by shutting down Freedom and increasing fares to a level above those from AKL/WLG/CHC
Not sure where you got that gem from. There is the odd one ore two uninformed pratts making noises at the moment but to say that regional New Zealand has been alienated is stretching the truth.
you can now drive from Regional centers
You have always been able to drive. Nothings changed here, compared to OZ far more New Zealanders prefer to fly than drive so I don't see your comparision with OZ as being valid.