" From your description of the NZ market for twin GA, I think it's not a million miles away from the UK - there are very few opportunities for ME hours in GA here." says foghorn.
I can very much confirm this to be the case in the UK - unless you want to pay yourself of course.
I've got as far as a frozen ATPL, and the ballpark figures mentioned here are about right. Its hard to be accurate, because you only have to blow an IR test once or twice and you can start adding thousands to the price.
Fly as much as you can afford in NZ. UK flying is amongst the most expensive in the world -mainly linked to the price of fuel, I suspect. (Avgas locally costs £stg 1.15 a litre. Unleaded petrol £stg 0.78 a litre).
Good luck with you choosen career path.
Is it worth it ??
I dunno. Let you know when I eventually get a job !