I find it quite remarkable that overseas companies are much more willing to pay a premium for quality staff than NZ based companies are. I guess their business model is based around a much higher pay rate.
Still, embarrassing for the local companies.
Why the hell do you want a cover letter from seasonal staff? That just sounds like a pointless power play on your part.
Maybe there are a lot of out of work PhD’s applying. That’s why a curriculum vitae instead of a simple online application. /s