ORC:
Strictly speaking, you can drive on a UK licence in New Zealand for a year after arrival, in the equivalent classes of the entitlements you hold in the UK. Therefore if you have Class 1 (C+E) you can drive Class 5 in NZ.
Yer that’s what I thought but every employer I’ve spoken to won’t touch me until I’ve converted my license.
ORC:
If you have held your UK C+E licence for long enough (3 years I think) you don’t have to do the practical test, only the theory.
It’s two years thankfully 
otherwise I would have to sit a practical as well.