I wonder how many pilots JetStar will suck up? They have a huge order for 787's and are actively seeking pilots at the moment. CX would still be the best option if you could get an Aussie or Kiwi work permit (either gives you the right to work trans-tasman. I know as I have gone through all this in the past three years); even New Zealanders have a hard time getting into QF though, so the lads are certainly correct when they say 'good luck'. They can't just head over and fly for United or Continental, hence the animosity.
The licence is not much of a worry as long as you have an ATPL and the requisite time on a multi crew aircraft. Friends who fly for Pacific Blue transfered their US ATPL's to Aussie, then used that to get the trans- tasman credited NZ ATPL (you can work it the other way around as well, but for whatever reason this was the route they had to take). Going about it the other way, by writing a bunch of exams that rival the British ones, is something you will want to avoid.
I converted a Canadian ATPL to the NZ by writing the law exam and doing a ride in a multi crew aircraft, which I did with my first employer in NZ. No worries there. I did require 500 hours command or 1000 co on a multi crew aircraft, and it had to be on a valid/current ATPL, so my time in other licences was useless. Luckily I had all that at the time.
Also, I converted before I had a work permit. Got the work permit and went to fly for a local operator, then went to mainline Air NZ when I became a resident.
That all took three years.
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