Hi Trichef,
to MoveToNZ.
How much money you need to survive on depends on what standard of living you're expecting and what you're prepared to do to save on your living expenses. Being single, you have the option to share accommodation and you can adjust your expenses to suit yourself rather than having to worry about serving the needs of a family. I think the guide figure that's suggested is about $1,000 per month.
If you need to gain more experience in your field, NZ experience is obviously the best kind to have but, as you say, it may be difficult to find someone who will take you with very little experience. If you can afford to visit NZ and look for work in person, it may be better for you, especially if you are prepared to start at the bottom and work your way up. That way you will be able to show what you are capable of and will gain an employer's confidence. Trying to get an apprenticeship is another way of getting in. If you look at this
previous thread there are some links in my post that relate to apprenticeships.
If you're looking for a job in the hospitality industry, you would be better looking at places that get a lot of tourism, like the cities and also Queenstown in South Island, but pick any job offers carefully as they might only be seasonal and you might find yourself out of work in the offpeak season.