visa question..

[burnsie]

Hi all, could you tell me if I can come over to NZ for a holiday and change my visa wavier to a work permit if I'm offered a job?? Would we also have to arrive on return tickets?
I have a kiwi friend that has a logging company and has said that he will sponsor me for a work permit once im in country and that he will train me up, he says that he's having trouble finding staff and after he's advertised the job for locals and had no takers, he'll be able to go to immigration and apply for a work permit for me, I'll be travelling with my wife and two girls we are British citizens and I'm 43 and a ex London fireman that was retired on a silly injury which I've since made a full recovery from. We will rent our house out in the UK and have a income from my pension and rental of about £1500 per month after mortgage is paid plus we've saved £25000, many thanks in advanced for any replies, is this plan doable???
Burnsie