One additional question -- how does the design philosophy of Pacific Dunes compare / contrast with Cape Kidnappers. Can Cape Kidnappers handle the vast number of people who might play a Pacific Dunes in a given day or is the course more geared towards a limited amount of players given all the inherent design features / dangers that are present.
Very different parcels of land. Pac is a true tribute to the Scottish and Irish greats - a short seaside links with natural sand slough-offs, gorse, unmodified lay-of-the-land routing, and a capture of that hard-to-define quirkiness of the UK classics. CK is meant to be beautiful and hard and is patterned after no other course in the world. One small question -- does the wind pattern at Cape Kidnappers follow any set pattern between the two major seasons of summer and winter -- you know, the way the wind blows at Pac Dunes the summer win comes out of the north / northwest and the winter wind is generally out of the other direction?
Matt, I'm just not qualified to answer. Check the weather websites for annual trends at Napier, NZ I looked at the Website and they detail the final two holes to some degree. Can you provide any more details -- they seem to be quite long.
The 17th is a friggin bear! Risk your drive up the right side for the better opening for your long uphill approach. Bail with your drive left to the safer side and face a daunting million yard carry over everything evil the world has know (I may be getting a little carried away here 
) The 18th is fabulous. A long but not impossibly long tee shot sets you up for a Disney World roller coaster approach to a deeply bowled green. It's a riot to play as you can hit it right, left and too far and still bring it back to the cup. A match play culminator like few others. Final question -- is recovery part of the mix -- or is there a high percentage of "either or" type golf that one usually encounters when playing in the desert southwest of the USA?
No! Once you get to the green environs, CK is as fascinating as any course in the world - maybe the very best of the Renaissance Men's many excellent efforts. If you miss badly though the case is closed - 30 days in the slammer. Adios and many thanks for your always detailed replies.