There are two paths to residency but both begin with a business visa (now Entrepreneur Work Visa). From the immigration website for the Entrepreneur residency: …you’re already in New Zealand on an
Entrepreneur Work Visa or another visa that allows self-employment, and you want to live in New Zealand on a permanent basis. If you’re granted this visa, you’ll be able to continue operating your business in New Zealand and stay here indefinitely. Essentially the Entrepreneur Work Visa gives you the chance to come and start a business. If successful by the two different Entrepreneur Residency paths you can gain residency. One requires your business to be operational and meeting goals for 24 months and the other for six months. We weren't able to get our business open fast enough to have it open for 24 months before our 36 months Long Term Business Visa (now Entreprenuer Work Visa) expired so had to meet the requirements under having a business open 6 months.