Actually the 727s are finally being retired because their nav/comms gear is so old now that it doesn't meet civ regulations for Europe or North America.
It got past "The Woman" (if you can call 'her' that) because she wants something flash to ride around in, befitting someone of her exhaulted status. She had to come home from Oz a wee while back in an Orion because the Ansett unions had blocked her Air NZ plane and the RNZAF didn't have anything else servicable.
I wouldn't worry about the 10-year committment if Herr Helengrad and friends hold sway Dupre, we won't have an Air Force at all by then. You might get a job with the Republic of Aotearoa Lesbian Socialist Peacekeeping Service Air Transport Division....as long as you swear allegience to Maori and Pacific cultural dominance, and don't admit to liking guns.