Originally Posted by
JandM
I think, not until after you've been a resident for two years, although the wording of those regulations Chris has quoted is rather muddling.
https://www.immigration.govt.nz/new-...vel-conditions
You can apply for PR from outside NZ, if you will be somewhere where it won't matter if you don't have your passport with you for a while.
their first day in New Zealand as a resident (see R5.66.5(b)) was at least 12 months before the current application for a variation of travel conditions was made; and
they continue to meet any conditions previously imposed under section 49(1) or section 50 of the Immigration Act 2009;
or putting it another way, if you meet the requirements for PR in one of the years preceding the application, including not having held a RV for two years) but not both, you can be issued with a further 12 month visa.
Quite often used where a person is travelling at the time they might otherwise be eligible for a PRV.