Sent an email to my previous co and she said this
I do not work with family stream applications however you could look at our website I have provided you with link
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/migra...milystream.htm
I note that you have not yet entered NZ therefore your partner would only be able to apply for a temporary work visa to accompany you. You would not be eligible to sponsor a partner for residence until you have activated your residence visa – ie entered NZ on your resident visa.
Looks like you guys are right. I need to activate my visa first before i can sponsor my wife over as partner. Else if i do it before i activate it, she will have to settle with a temporary work visa which isn't really what im after. I'll wait until i activated first then. This information should be useful for others too i think