Some of the timings change by a month or two with airline courses-I've given the whitetail (independent) timeline there. But with MPL you spend less time overseas, and come back for several months of Sims in the UK. I don't know the specifics of the MPL timings if I'm honest.
Airline specific ATPLs (eg. BA) follow those timings pretty closely all the way to the end, where it's then longer at the final round of Nursling/Dibden before type rating starts.
Phoenix vs NZ is down to your specific course and timing-they are (or were) trying to get most MPL cadets to go to Arizona, and ATPL to NZ. generally speaking one doesn't get to choose one or the other...
If your gf were to come to NZ you would likely be able to see her a fair bit, or at least enough. The weather can hold you up, and there are always days off, so it wouldn't be a lost cause if she were there with you.