A work visa is the same as a work permit - with the visa you apply from outside NZ and with the permit you are applying from inside NZ. If you get a work visa and then travel to NZ it will be converted into a work permit when you enter the country. I believe he would still need a job offer to apply although it doesn't always make it clear on the INZ site until you go digging around. There are different types of work visas with different requirements so you need to carefully read what it says about the requirements for each one.
This is what it says in the INZ Operations Manual....
WG1 General work policy
See WG1 Effective 24/07/2006
See WG1 Effective 22/05/2006
See WG1 Effective 04/04/2005
See WG1 Effective 29/04/2004
General work policy contributes to the overall work policy objective (see W1) by allowing New Zealand employers to recruit temporary workers from overseas to meet particular or seasonal worker shortages that cannot be met from within New Zealand while protecting employment opportunities, for New Zealand citizens and residents.
To be issued with a work visa or granted a work permit under general work policy applicants must:
provide an offer of employment in an occupation that is included on the current Immediate Skill Shortage List (ISSL) or the current Long Term Skill Shortage List (LTSSL) (see WG2) issued by the NZIS; or
provide an offer of employment from a New Zealand employer who has a current approval in principle from the NZIS (see WG3) for the recruitment of the applicant(s); or
provide an offer of employment and a supporting case from a New Zealand employer (see WG4) establishing that there are no New Zealand citizens or residents suitably qualified by training and experience who are available (see WG1.1); or
meet the requirements specified for one of the other categories listed in WG5, or for WG6 or WG8.
Employers must meet the requirements in W2.10.5 relating to compliance with employment and immigration law in force in New Zealand and offers of employment must contain the information in W2.10.10.
Where required by general work policy the availability of New Zealand citizens or residents will be determined by carrying out a labour market test (see WG3.10).
With having to prove your relationship, you can submit documents with both your names on that cover a period of more than 12 months e.g. bank statements or utility bills, photographs that cover this period (although how INZ can tell when these are taken I don't know unless the photos are dated), letters from companies addressed to you both etc. Basically, INZ are looking for things with dates and both your names on, so they can tie you together over the 12-month period. I think it's to stop things like marriages of convenience where people get together just so one of them can gain NZ PR and then they go separate ways.
F2.5.15 Evidence of living together in a genuine and stable marriage
Evidence that the principal applicant* and spouse are living together may include but is not limited to original or certified copies of documents showing shared accommodation such as:
a joint mortgage
a joint tenancy agreement or rent book
correspondence (including postmarked envelopes) addressed to both principal applicant* and spouse at the same address.
If a couple has been living separately for any period during their marriage, they should provide evidence of the length of the periods of separation and the reasons for them.
Evidence about whether the marriage is genuine and stable may include but is not limited to original or certified copies of:
birth certificates of their children
evidence of communication between the couple
proof of joint assets
proof of shared income
proof of shared bank accounts
photographs of the couple together
documents indicating public recognition of the marriage.
Evidence about these matters can be considered up until the date of final decision*.
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Mother Bear 
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