This is what they say about applying for a General Work Visa/Permit. No mention of needing a $45,000+ salary for this one as it's only a temporary WP, but might be enough to get you in the door and gaining enough NZ work experience to progress on to PR if you can't get in any other way.
General Work (Other) Policy requirements
If you have a job offer from a New Zealand employer in an occupation that is not on our Immediate Skill Shortage List, you may be able to get a temporary work visa and/or permit for up to three years under our General Work (Other) Policy.
Requirements you must meet
In addition to meeting our good health and good character requirements, you will need to prove that you are suitably qualified for the position by showing evidence of qualifications or training you have undertaken or work experience you have gained.
Requirements your job offer must meet
Your job offer must come from a New Zealand employer who can prove to us that there are no suitable New Zealand workers available to do the job. This can be done in two ways:
The employer can request an approval in principle from us to recruit overseas workers. This will have been done before you apply for a work visa.
The employer provides the proof as part of your application process.
Evidence there are no New Zealand workers available
To get an approval in principle before you apply, or to show us that there are no suitable New Zealand workers available when you are applying, the employer has to show that they have have genuinely searched for suitably qualified and trained New Zealand workers.
The employer also has to explain why:
their particular job specifications are necessary for the work
New Zealand applicants are not suitable
New Zealand applicants cannot be readily trained.
We also need to be satisfied that the employer has previously met – and will continue to meet – New Zealand employment and immigration laws.
We usually conduct a labour market test to confirm that no suitable New Zealand workers are available.
We will not consider that the evidence is sufficient if either of the following situations apply:
The advertising for the position is written in a way that discourages New Zealand workers from applying.
There are suitable New Zealand workers available. This includes cases where New Zealand workers are unwilling to take up the work because of the terms and conditions, such as salary or wages, the employer is offering.
From
here .