The holder of any residence class visa is entitled:[1] A permanent resident visa holder is entitled to be granted entry permission at the border at any time, while the resident visa holder is only entitled to apply for entry permission (whether before or after travelling to New Zealand).
After that the holder may remain in the country legally but must not leave it or lose their resident visa.
[8] An applicant for a permanent resident visa must Commitment to New Zealand can be met by spending enough time in the country, by becoming a tax resident, by owning a business, by investing in New Zealand or by establishing a base.
In any case you will need to be invited to apply for a resident visa by Immigration New Zealand.
Currently there are the following categories through one can obtain a resident visa: Australian citizens and Australian permanent residents can enter New Zealand and live in New Zealand indefinitely without a visa, provided they meet the health and character requirements.