Good system that Kiwi one, and it sounds like Air NZ can see merit in having their pilots hold the ATPL within a year or so of check to line.
Having recently been associated with a Kiwi operation, I was quite impressed with the practicality, flexibility and co operation of CAA and the way they appoint examiners and give them reasonable scope. Of course they are still Big Brother Government, so not all is sweetness and light, but overall, a good enough lot and a good licensing regime.
Pity some here won't accept something similar to the NZ requirement to do an ATPL test in something slightly larger than a kiddies toy.
They seem to think that 'we' in Aus are somehow 'special'.