Yeah that's what I've read... it's the reason I decided to go with WHV first - so I can travel some, and then find a job when I'm there, and comfortable with where I want to live.
Can you fly straight into Wellington? Or do you fly to Auckland and then Welly?
I've a friend in chch, was thinking about starting with dumping my suitcases at his house while I hike around SI
, but figured I'd spend some days on NI first if I had to fly into Auck.