CC
Suggesting Air NZ mainline is somehow propped up by the links is something of a "long bow to draw", the reality is the group has a symbiotic existence. One would not prosper without the other. And don't forget many of the link routes were gifted years ago.
I am sorry to read of your experience with the recruitment process. By reading your posts, perhaps your tone of entitlement came through in the interview.
I'm not privy to that process. But I do know it takes a cluster in a few areas to get a "don't come back ever".... It could be argued your result in fact vindicates the current process, because on the surface it sounds like you should have romped in.