Not a dumb question at all! There are a lot of visa categories, each serving their own particular audience! Here's a brief rundown:

Holiday Visa: Will allow a stay in NZ for up to 9 months (12 months in special circumstances) but you are not allowed to work at all.

Working Holiday Visa: For 18 - 30 year olds, lasts for 12 months and entitles you to find 'Casual' work whilst on holiday there.

Work Visa/Permit: Normally lasts up to 2 years, but sometimes extensions can be granted. Grants you permission to find full time work on what they call a temporary basis (meaning it only lasts 24 months) and once it expires you will be required to leave NZ.

Work To Residence: Lasts up to 36 months on the grounds of you holding permanent work that would normally be suitable for application under the Skilled category. At the end of this period, you may be invited to apply for residence.

Skilled Migrant: This is an upfront residency application. You are not entitled to live or work in NZ while this is being processed, but once granted, gives you the right to live and work permanently in NZ.

If you cannot find a job before you want to go, you may have to visit on a holiday visa to find work, or a working holiday visa if you are 18 - 30 years old. Once you find work, as long as it meets the conditions of the work permit (i.e. must be on occupational shortages list) then you can stay for up to 2 years working full time. After the initial 12 months on a work permit, you should then apply for residency under the Skilled migrant category. By the time your work permit expires, you should have been granted residence!

Thats the plan anyway!