I received an email from CO. She said:
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We have completed an initial assessment of your application and note that it appears you and your partner may not meet the character requirements for a residence class visa (unless granted a character waiver).
The provision in New Zealand immigration instructions A5.25 that appears to affect you and your partner is A5.25.(i) in the course of applying for a New Zealand (or a permit under the Immigration Act 1987), has made any statement or provided any information, evidence or submission that was false, misleading or forged, or withheld material information.
In this residence application, you have provided a number of evidential information to support your relationship with your partner, that is genuine and stable. Our records also show that your partner was interviewed by Border Immigration Officer upon her arrival in New Zealand. After the interview, she was granted a visitor visa at the border for three months.
Based on an assessment for the information currently held on file in relation to your partnership, for the following reasons, it appears that you and your partner may fall under A5.25. (i) because you made statement or provided information that was false, misleading or withheld material information at the time of your partner’s approval of a visitor visa and/or in this residence application.
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What should we do right now? I know it's a difficult question.
Should we hire a lawyer? Should we grant the character waiver?