With the change to student loan rules now you must self fund your PPL before you can get a student loan for your CPL and the rest. The positive to this means you can do your PPL anywhere then go to the big school for your student loan funded CPL.
I'm guessing as Ardmore is one of your options you're Auckland based? Try looking around the flying clubs for getting your PPL, probably cheaper and a great learning environment which will also help you meet useful people around the industry in the process. If you are indeed Auckland based, I'd suggest giving Airline Flying Club at Ardmore a look. Email is
[email protected] or phone is 09 2984747. Flick them an email and one of the instructors should get back to you reasonably quickly.