Yes, I have been in touch with Des and he has experienced numerous battles of this ilk during his career. I feel there is a groundswell happening gauging by the amount of email traffic circulating. Quite a few of NZ's aviation professionals who ply their trade overseas are now becoming aware of what those aviation authority public servants are up to in Wellington and it is generating a stir.
What annoys me the most is when visiting the States how much they enjoy and promote general aviation. They have airports and fuel everywhere and the FAA are not in the business of restricting aviation to the masses like the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority is.