EOI JOB REFERENCE CHECKS

We are holding back sending off our EOI form purely because we are concerned that NZ house will check with my husbands present company for confirmation of his employment details. Of course, this could cause problems for him as whilst we want to submit the form now - we were not actually planning to emigrate until 2006. We could supply wage slips etc..
Does anyone know whether they do actually check with current employers at this stage, or is it only likely to happen when you apply officially?

AFAIK they don't, but after the EOI is submitted and your invited to apply you have 3 months to do so (I think, didn't check the form). I'm pretty sure they are box tickers and will not contact anyone unless they have to. They do not prescribe how you demonstrate employment, so pay slip, job offer etc should satisfy them.