Panick over just received email from case officer (i thought i'd ask him direct) he says
You have 12 months from the date of issue of the residence visa to arrive in NZ and take up the residence. A residence permit is granted to you on arrival in NZ. You then have 3 months to start work.
These dates are maximum periods from our perspective - you obviously have to work around the date that the employer can keep a position open for you.

phew :icon_lol:

Lozza