I'm going to support my partner to apply for a residence visa under partnership category. We had filed an application before and it was declined by INZ since I didn't declare him as a partner in my own residence application under SMC. For the coming application, I know I shall also prepare for overcoming this obstacle, but not sure how to do it.
It is stated in the letter from INZ for our previous application that INZ is satisfied that our relationship is genuine and stable, but they are not convinced by our explanation of not disclosing my partner in my own residence application. When I filed my application in July 2006, we had just been in NZ for a month with a GF/BF relationship. In my home country, China, only legal marriage could be recognized as a formal personal relationship by the government, and there is no such "partnership" relationship being accepted. Since I'm new to NZ at that moment, I signed an agent to file my application. The agent only asked if I had a husband, and I said "no". I'm totally unaware at that moment that I could include my partner in the application.
I'm not sure how to organize these reasons into a convictive explanation. Your comments are very welcomed, and thank you in advance.