Some Australian operators are running into a similar issue with their Chinese locomotives.
The CNR Dalian locomotive asbestos cab issues are old news. KiwiRail has been struggling financially for a long time, and most of their power is very heavily rebuilt export GEs and EMDs that are aging.
I am almost certain that CNR was the low bidder, they may have even offered to help finance them (as they have done elsewhere) to get the order. Indeed, you get what you pay for. GE and EMD do have locomotives that fit the clearance diagram in NZ, so I wonder who will get the next order.
KIWI rail ( New Zealand ) bought 40 class DL locomotives from a china supplier. Loco have been found to have asbestos and are being taken out of service temporarily to remove same.
http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/freight/single-view/view/challenging-and-frustrating-year-hits-kiwirail.html
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