NZ Immigration and plans for the future

Rowan and I have been trying to plan what's going to happen next in terms of what countries we live in and what we're doing. My plan has been to try and find a way to stay and work in New Zealand until he finished University, which would be early December and then together we'd plan whether we'll go to the US or stay in New Zealand. I'd like to start graduate school either here or there since I've done enough working and miss school, but Rowan's unsure and doesn't know what would make more sense. So we've been calling the US consulate on his end and I've been talking to NZ immigration. Well, today, I kind of had the talk with immigration that laid out my options and none of them work for me. Option 1: Get a visitors visa to extend my time so I can see Rowan graduate, but that would involve showing I have 3000 dollars, which I don't and not being able to work for three months, so option 1 is out. Option 2: Hope that someplace will say, we want to hire you full time and that will allow me to get a work visa and start on the road to NZ residency, problems: the job would be in Dunedin, Rowan and I if we stay in NZ will probably end up in Wellington, and I wouldn't be working for a year since I'd want to start my studies as soon as I can. There really isn't an option three since we haven't been living together so I can't get a partner visa and we can't live together since Rowan's in a fixed lease, so can't leave and move in with me or have us find a place together. So now, reality has hit and we have to start planning what's actually going to happen. I'm going to have to fly back at the end of August and we keep figuring things out from there. Rowan's investigating a student exchange to the US and possible jobs, while I look into graduate schools in the US and NZ. So no option is fully closed off, but at the moment, those bothersome three months mean that I'll head home. Which isn't as awful to look forward too, since internet, phone and all make life closer. It'll be hard, but there are many ways for the two of us to end up together is the US or NZ, just money, time and research will allow us to see the best one.

I needed to write this since this is what's been happening and writing out the process of the various options is just another reminder to myself that this is the best way. I have pictures from Rotorua and had a wonderful time there and in Wellington and I will update about that soon. Just at the moment, the future kind of loomed. So if anyone knows anything about US immigration policies or someone who could help Rowan and I figure this out, please help. Even if its just hugs thanks, since when I come back, I'm going to want to reconnect since I've missed everyone a lot, but I was lucky enough to find someone who gives me strength, laughter and a desire to write again along with the gift of New Zealand. I love Rowan and its going to hurt to be seperated from him, but nothing else is possible and we'll both be working towards ways to be together and be doing what we both want to be doing.