Well, what's supposed to happen is that you start a business in NZ, having already run a similar successful business in your home country. However, Mark (Macfod) stunned us all by defying the very strict NZIS rulings and getting his Long Term Business Visa (LTBV). From this one would assume that the rules aren't cast in stone. He bought a cafe complete with kiwi staff despite never having run a business of his own before. One thing that NZIS is particularly keen on is that any new business venture you start up would employ kiwis so maybe it was that that swung it for him. Either that or grim determination. Whatever it was, we're very happy for him.
Perhaps you can pick his brains if you're keen to do something similar. He's off on holiday soon but maybe you can catch him before he goes. I do know that he owns and works in his cafe as does his wife, so that's one of your questions answered. If you wanted to start your own business or buy into an existing one, you'd need to go the LTBV route. If you managed to get PR some other way, you'd be free to buy into a business or start your own then.
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Mother Bear 
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