Life is short and you want to fly - so why not do it now. Follow your heart. I got some great advice at my flying club which I always remember. "Treat it as a hobby and enjoy it. Don't get hung up about going solo or chasing the licence. It's a privilege to be up there."
Meanwhile, if you haven't already found it, have a look at the NZ CAA's website. There's a very helpful PDF file explaining how you get foreign licences recognised in NZ. Seems straightforward if you qualify in the UK. And even if you haven't qualified by then, you will at least know how to land the thing and navigate around in it.
Pilots