It does make it sound like it, doesn't it? I think I read something quite a while ago about teachers having a similar problem - you need 2 year's work experience under your belt before applying for PR.
However, thinking back to when Nattydread and his wife, who's a midwife, immigrated, I'm sure she was newly qualified when they went. They'd waited until she'd finished her studies, so she wouldn't have had any experience. I'm not sure about Jacky (Nick and Jacky) either as she was also newly qualified.
I found this old thread and there's a post by
Midder (another midwife) which states that she didn't have any UK experience at all, but just wasn't awarded points for it, not that she was barred from applying. Very odd.
Perhaps an email directly to NZIS might clear this up for you, Nicky, or maybe drop Nattydread or Nick a PM. They look in on us from time to time. It's an important issue which needs sorting.