Thanks for the advice guys, I will definitely get on to INZ tomorrow and see what they say. Yes I am also on the 23 month visa, but I don't think there's any chance of me having gone over the 12 months allowed employment. With the working for accommodation it would probably be close or slightly over, but there are absolutely no records of that and others on tourist visas do similar voluntary work to me - however according to INZ's guide employment counts as 'working for benefit or reward', and according to the more comprehensive definition my current arrangement counts as employment.
However, then it says that the employer must be willing to meet standards of pay ie exceeding minimum wage etc - but again I'm not sure how this will work. My 'employer' can't afford to pay me a salary, basically he is just putting the capital and business nous behind this venture and using contacts to find work.
I couldn't go the permanent residency route as I don't have the qualifications or experience, I am skilled in webdesign but it's a field where a high proportion of people don't have an actual webdesign (or often even an IT) qualification. I actually have the most work experience in landscape gardening, but again no qualifications. I would love to move to NZ permanently but at the moment I just want to stay for another 6 months and give this business a go because it really is a great opportunity.
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