Hi everyone, I hope someone can help me with this.

Say an Australian permanent resident (with NZ ETA) and spouse (who is not an Australian PR, but with a NZ study visa), enter NZ, intending to live indefinitely in NZ. My understanding is the Australian PR will probably be granted a NZ `Australian Resident Visa' at the border.

(1) Can the spouse (the couple have lived together for >3 years) immediately apply for a Partner of a New Zealander Resident Visa? I understand the Australian PR must prove he is "living" in NZ. Will a tenancy agreement and documents showing transfer of household items suffice? Or does he have to have lived in NZ for a minimum duration?
(2) Will the fact that the spouse has a student visa put her at the back of the queue in the processing of the Partner visa because she already has a visa allowing her to stay for an extended period? How much would this add to the processing time?

Thanks in advance for your help!