Hi Macfod,
you know i really believe "where there's a will there's a way" I had issues with my LTBV where NZIS said I couldn't set up a second business which was actually one I had ran successfully in the UK as it wasn't in my original application. I thought this was stupid and so I emailed Helen Clarke and explained everything to her without expecting a reply. Within a week I had an email from her office saying I could set up the second business and a week letter a similar letter arrived from NZIS. My only concern in your case is that you don't meet any of the original crteria for an LTBV but Taffy is correct you should really push the fact that you are employing Kiwi's. Unfortunately a lot of people do bite the bullet and move to NZ without everything in place and they do get rejected. I wish you all the best. Keep us posted and if you get in I'll bring Taffy down for a coffee.

Paul G