Hi.

The information about getting US FAA licenses is in FAR Part 61, which
you can find on the FAA web site at http://www1.airweb.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgFAR.nsf/MainFrame?OpenFrameSet
Under "Current FAR" click "By Subpart" and then select Part 61.

Basically, there are three ways for a foreign pilot to fly in the US.

1) Bring your own airplane. You can fly a New Zealand registered aircraft with a New Zealand pilot license. (Yeah, this probably isn't too practical, but I'll include it in case there are Canadians reading.)

2) You can get a US private pilot certificate issued based a foreign license. Just take a current foreign license to the FAA. This is mostly used by people who are here for a short while and want to fly around on vacation.

3) Take the tests to get a US license. If you want to work here, this is what you'll have to do. For each license, there are minimum experience requirements, a knowledge test (multiple-choice) and a practical test (oral questions and flying). To get a flight instructor certificate you must first have a commercial license with an instrument rating.

The commercial pilot requirements are in Subpart F.

The instrument rating requirements are in Subpart B section 61.65.

Flight instructor requirements are in Subpart H.

Blue skies.
-Barbara (ex-CFI)