[MotherBear]

Hi Ash and welcome.

If your husband will be starting his job in NZ before it's likely that your application for residency will be finalised, then he will need to apply for a Work Visa ( if he applies from outside NZ). Once he enters NZ the WV will be converted to a Work Permit. If he's going to apply for it when he's already in NZ he will just need to apply for a WP.

When he gets his WP, then you can also get one off his back, so to speak, but that doesn't mean you would have to work. At the same time you will be able to apply for a Student Visa for the kids which means that you won't have to pay international rates for schooling.