Hi Kana,
to MoveToNZ.
The consultant is right in saying that you need to be careful about choosing a job that will allow you to apply for PR. In some cases you can get a job offer, apply for a Work Permit, then when you have enough NZ experience under your belt, you can apply for PR. I believe there may be some jobs in tourism that could get you PR, but I imagine they would be pretty high up the scale.
May I ask in what field your degree and work experience are and in which country you got your degree? It may be better for you to apply with those if they are on the skills shortages list rather than go straight into tourism. At least they might get you PR and, if there aren't any conditions attached to your PR, you could then move on to working in your partner's company.
If you are in a suitable job and have a WP, you can apply for PR, but the deciding factor is being in 'a suitable job'. There are WPs under
different policies and you would need to fit in with certain conditions on these.
As for timing, it depends on how busy the NZIS is at the time you apply and how quickly they want to push you through i.e. those with badly needed skills would have preference, I would think.