Hi Bazza
This....
Airconditioning and Refrigeration Mechanic
(342111)
National Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Level 4) OR National Certificate in Heating and Ventilation (Level 4)
National Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (Level 4) OR National Certificate in Heating and Ventilation (Level 4)
...appears on the LTSSL. Would your job title come under this? It sounds very close.
From
here under Trade Occupations.
If you can apply under the SMC you could still get a short term WP to enable you to start work a.s.a.p. Your PR application would run alongside your WP. I'm trying to check up on how long a WP has to be before you need medical and police certificate but parts of the INZ site are down, at my end anyway. I think it's the one-year one that you don't need them. You can get them to cover up to 3 years and renew them when they are about to expire.
If you wanted to apply for a police certificate and are originally from the UK, you can now get it turned around within 10 days (plus allowing time for the post, I guess) on
here . It costs more but is quicker.
You would only be able to apply for NZ citizenship after holding PR for 5 years. It used to be 3 years but changed in the last couple of years. There really isn't a lot of difference between PR and citizenship other than being able to hold a NZ passport and a few other bits and pieces.