Work Experience From Most Countries is NOT Recognised in NZ

JCM

One feature of the new Skilled Migrant Category that everyone needs to be aware of is that work experience is recognised by the NZIS only if it was obtained in a small group of countries.

If you are not currently working in, or have an offer of, skilled employment in New Zealand, your work experience can only qualify for points if it was gained in a comparable labour market. We recognise the following countries as having a comparable labour market to New Zealand:

Australia
Austria
Belgium-Luxembourg
Canada
Cyprus
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Malaysia
New Zealand
Netherlands
Norway
Philippines
Portugal
Republic of South Korea
Singapore
South Africa
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
United States

If you work experience was gained in a country that is not listed, that experience will only be assessed as being in a comparable labour market if you:

were lawfully working for a multi-national commercial entity domiciled in one of the listed countries and are a permanent resident or citizen of one of the listed countries

http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrate/HowYouEarnPoints.htm

Obvious omissions from the list are India, China and the countries of Eastern Europe and Russia. Note though that experience from any country counts for points provided you have an offer of skilled employment in New Zealand.