http://onlineservices.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual/ RV1.20.b
The only requirement for the grant of a permanent resident visa to a non-principal applicant is that the principal applicant must hold a permanent resident visa, unless:
the non-principal applicant is excluded by the provisions of RV2.1; or
the provisions requiring a secondary applicant to be assessed independently of the principal applicant apply (RV1.20.1 to RV1.20.20); or
the non-principal applicant has never been in New Zealand as a resident (as required by RV1.5(d)).
the non-principal applicant does not meet character instructions (see A5) (unless given a special direction or granted a character waiver) or falls under RV1.25.
'non-principal applicants' means the non-principal applicants included in the original resident visa application.