Hmmm... Well, I guess with the more strong batting line up above, it would be easy to select the better bowling of Patel over the better batting of McCullum. That said, Patel isn't a bad batsman. He won't score you many runs, but he can certainly hang around.

Redmond (6)
McIntosh
Ryder (4)
Hay
Flynn
Todd
Watling (+)
Hiini (3)
Southee (1)
Patel (5)
Gillespie (2)

Yes, I think that's preferable to the XI with McCullum at #9.