It appears that the Nix are only interested in New Zealand players who come from their academy. Others players who don't go down that route don't seem to get looked at these days.
The last pre season was difficult as Auckland was in Covid lockdown making it hard for domestic NZ players to trial. Was only Oli Whyte bought in from memory.
Hopefully a few non Weenix Kiwis get a chance this pre season. Prso & Bozinovski were both duds last season, so when looking at those sort of backup positions why not take a punt on a Kiwi like Schrijvers, Billingsley, Kalua, Dane Schnell or whoever.