I went through the process of getting a UK ATPL 20+ years ago. I had about 7 or 8,000 hours on the DC-8, 3,000 hrs of that was PIC. If I remember correctly, It was about 6 weeks after I sent off my logbooks to the CAA that I received a "Letter of Assessment" based on my flight time/experience. I needed to take the Air Law, Performance test, systems tests and the lights test. Then MEL flight test and the Instrument Renewal test. It was the biggest waste of time and energy I've ever spent. I had interviews with B.A., Monarch, Virgin and a couple others, but no job offers although I do have the right to live and work in the UK. I met or exceeded all their requirements so maybe it was being Britannicly challenged.

So, unless your passport says you're a NZ citizen think long and hard about it.