They were "prone to damage" from debris drawn into the engines and needed screens over the engines to mitigate the risk, she said.
I believe the RAF Merlin's have the same engines as the NH-90 and the in-built Inlet Particle Separator does the job without any 'screens' to mitigate the risk of engine damage.
I presume therefore that their aircraft in Afghanistan go through engines on a daily basis then?
Likewise there are many pictures of Merlins and Chinooks being fed into the back of a C17 so the NH-90 will fit no probs. I think the RNZAF need to realise that the Hercs days are numbered now that most military kit has out grown them (hence why A400M is on the way). If they wanted an aircraft that will slide into the back of their ancient Hercs then they should have gone with the UH-1Y; I cant think of many other readily available support helicopters that would.