On my usual monthly visit, it never seems OVERLY busy, although more than 6 aircraft within 50 miles might tax the system me thinks
Having said that, the standard of controlling is usually pretty good, even if the approach guys either don't want, or dont have the equipment to provide reduced separation closer in.
As for getting cut up by the little guys, we are required to be fully configured by 1500 AAL, and stabilised by 1000' so by 6 miles we are coming back from 180 towards 160 and eventually 150ish, I used to do 180 kts in a B200 till two miles without any problems...can't be much harder in a 1900 or Dush 8? Surely a shorter final and wings level at 5-300 AAL would stop the visuals that use either the motorway or the eastern end of Puhinui road as a base turn reference?