I have in the last decade visited NZ a couple of times and far more frequently Australia. These were on business visits within the aviation community including in some instances the Air Forces of both countries. I did not get the impression during these visits there was any serious degradation of the relationship.
Possibly because both countries have, since being discarded by the UK, managed perfectly well without it!
From my reading of the sale, the deal is not signed nor by any means is the French bid guaranteed success.