Just caught up with this thread after a couple of months.
Chch Rangers I am loving these recounts of your climbing adventures, keep em coming!
My brother goes on very similar adventures and loves it. Often has similarly spectacular photos and stories to tell. For a second I even wondered if he was your "gooner" until the photos got close up hahahaha.
He actually mastered his craft in the Tararuas as we grew up in Upper Hutt, and dragged me on the odd ramble, I am sure you would love it there when you eventually go.
Having said that, my brother always said the southern alps was the place to be, and he often goes down there, so I think it will be a step down in difficulty for you coming up here, bar for a couple of spots.