Could this plan work?

[lastsheep]

My wife and I are planning to move back to New Zealand with hopes of contributing to NZ and plans for residence. If I were to get a student visa and study level 4 carpentry and complete the course would I be eligble to apply for work? If I recieve a two year offer can I then apply for residency? We have passed the age of 30 can we still work in the immediate skill shortage catagory? My wife may take an extended course to meet a skill need. She has a degree from UCLA and was interested in getting a teaching certificate, can she do this in NZ and work? I have done research but have found some grey areas around these questions. I greatly appreciate any ideas on how we can make this work.

[MotherBear]

Would I be right in assuming you mean that you would study carpentry in NZ? If you can get a NZ qualification I would imagine that would be very helpful in both getting a job and any visa application you would make, but check first that you would meet the requirements . I can't see an age limit to studying so I would hope you'd be OK.

If you can get a job offer with an accredited employer you should be able to apply for a Work to Residence visa which would eventually allow you to apply for residency.

[lastsheep]

I do meet the requirments and the school I have been looking into has said that once I am accepted they will give me all the information I need to get my visa. Is there anything I am missing? It seems the carpentry profession really needs people, so I think I should be able to find work.
Thanks for the help.