A reliable source has commented that Air NZ staff have been told not to allow arrivals access to the KC (as an unpublished benefit) for NZ*GE and (perhaps?) NZ*G.

I don't have any personal experience of this - and can vaguely recall grumbles when NZ ceased something like 'non-flying access to the KC' a few years ago. Again, wasn't applicable to me at the time, so this may not be right.

Any experiences or comment of the use of the KC as a domestic arrivals lounge?

Cheers