@artemist Assuming NZ citizens are operating on the same set of rules that the UK ones are (since they are somewhat generic), that is 100% not the case, if you are in Schengen, then those days start counting up from when you enter to exit the entire zone. But there are some EU countries that are not in Schengen.

I'm not giving visa advice of course, but here is the UK guidance on this: https://www.gov.uk/travel-to-eu-schengen-area#:~:text=You%20can%20stay%20up%20to,can%20spend%20in%20these%20countries.