FFS the HR department in Air NZ do not control the pilot interview minimums or process. HR are the contact point and manage the appointments and book the rooms.
The GM Pilots (currently also a B737 Capt) in consultation with the Chief Pilot and senior fleet managers (all current pilots) decide on the criteria they are looking for with respect to hours, education requirements etc for each round of interviews based on applicant pool. HR then select pilots from the list who meet the criteria specified from GM Pilots for interviews.
Line pilots who have completed a course on assessment and interview skills training run the interviews, sim assessment, skills tests etc. The Line pilot assessors rank each applicant and present the findings to the senior pilot managers who make the the recommendations to employ or not employ.
The only process that is not run by the assessor pilots is the physc doctors.
The decision to re interview link pilots was not made by HR but by the pilot managers.