Victorian,
I've just returned from NZ where originally I was going to get a Validation Permit but ended up applying for a Kiwi PPL (since I will be going back) on the strength of my Canadian PPL.
All the information you need is in this document:
http://www.caa.govt.nz/pilots/Flight...ition_Info.pdf
Key points are:
1. Your foreign license and medical must be valid.
2. Your licence must be endorsed for English Level 4 or higher.
3. You must have suitable experience:
Applicants seeking a NZ validation permit are required to have flight experience that is at least equivalent to that prescribed for the appropriate level of NZ licence. That is, for a validation that grants PPL privileges, applicants must have the equivalent of all the NZ PPL minimum flight experience requirements, including dual instrument instruction, PPL weather and terrain
awareness and so on.
The requirements are listed in
http://www.caa.govt.nz/Advisory_Circulars/AC61_3.pdf . Important requirements are 5 hours dual instrument time and
5 hours dual flight training to include at least: 2 hours low flying; and 2 hours terrain and weather awareness training in aeroplanes in accordance with Appendix V.
4. Complete a BFR - see this document
http://www.caa.govt.nz/pilots/Instru..._PPL_RPL_A.pdf
A bureaucratic oddity of the Kiwi system is that you have to have a Type Rating for every type you fly. So do your BFR on the type you plan to fly.
If you are only going to be there for a short while, as jxk said, just fly with an instructor. You will learn a lot and have a lot more fun.