Most operators require it for charter quoting insurance purposes, however if they are short of pilots and pilots are thin on the ground they will bend the requirements to suit.
Also be aware that you will not make the grade in minimum hours so budget more than 3k. The NZ NVFR is a couple of bog laps up and down the coast with the city lights generally in view. The Australian NVFR is basically an Instrument rating without learning approaches. In terms of IF skill and black hole approaches at away aerodromes, the standard is pretty high.
For an ATPL issue, you require 100 hours night command. The only way to get it is to fly at night. You will also need 5 hours command for your instrument rating. I got a fair portion of my night hours on dead leg charters. I would simply wait until last light or depart before first and clock up what I could with the operators permission. (Scary stuff flying around the topend at night in a single)
Bottom line is to get it done and out of the way.