I don't know if that was a new zealand thing, or a campervan thing. However from what I've googled, it's becoming a more common feature. https://www.buyacar.co.uk/cars/459/what-is-a-speed-limiter
I know Mercedes often have that extra resistance level, since I've relatives' Mercedes some (I don't know if it function in cruise control or speed limiting in any way). I always found it annoying, because it came with what felt like a lagged and softened engine response until you utilized it. That just made the cars feel like they had two modes when starting from a stop sign, too slow or too fast, depending on how hard you pressed. :/ Perhaps I would have adjusted better if I drove one for more than a couple days.
Edit: Good points about the emergency cutoff being feasible, I stand corrected.