It is my understanding that to obtain an IRRV, one must be in NZ for more than six months of two consecutive years. Once you do this, you get a stamp or sticker on your passport that allows you to return to NZ at any time and stay as long as you like. Sounds fabulous. My question is: does time spent in NZ on a work visa, but not yet permanent resident, count towards this six months/two years requirement? I should be arriving in Auckland on a work visa in mid to late June, and I'm really hoping the clock starts ticking so that I can count 2007 as one of my two years.