NZ Visitor Visa Declined — Kiwi Partner Baby Due on Mid June - Worth Trying 6-Month App + Character Waiver Again? (Advisor Says High Risk

Kia ora Reddit people's

I’m in a bit of a mess and hoping for honest experiences from people who’ve been through similar situations.

Background:

• I have a partner in Aotearoa NZ and she is citizen who's pregnant due June(we were planning a partnership visa route but advisor says even that is now high risk because of my character issue).
• Applied for a 12-month visitor visa once declined.
• Previously requested a character waiver — it was refused last time.
• I have overstayed for a year after failing working visa based on partnership with lawyer spending of 15g with former wife.
• I have been convicted for minor incident on september which is resulted 500 $ fine. Didn't get deported straight away but couple months later police told me to have to see me then went to police office and he mentioned I have deportation order hence I'm under the arrest despite that I was bailed out because submitted section 61 letter prior week have to sign the letter if I failed the section 61 letter have to leave December 7th with flight ticket showing to INZ officer pretty much forcibly. I should have read carefully or I should not signed on that paper Which I did. But day after I left Aotearoa NZ I have letter from Associates minister of immigration saying there's not much they can do for my immigration status because I have already left Aotearoa NZ. So cynical.

Current plan because of time pressure:

• Submit a shorter 6-month visitor visa instead (hoping it looks more “temporary” and less risky). -Or submit partner visa with6.5g with the advisor
• Request the character waiver again with stronger evidence this time. Which I don't know what it is

My licensed advisor told me the whole thing is already high risk and even partnership visa is shaky. I really don’t know what I’m doing and can’t afford to get it wrong again.

Questions:

1. Has anyone here succeeded with a shortened visitor visa + character waiver after previous refusals?
2. Is hiring a full LIA/lawyer worth it for this (or is it possible to DIY with good evidence)?
3. What extra proof actually helped people get a waiver approved second time around?
4. Any risk of another refusal leading to a longer ban or making partnership visa even harder later?
5. Better alternatives I’m missing?

Happy to answer questions .Not looking for official legal advice — just real timelines and lessons from people who’ve been refused before or any advise.

Thank your time for reading this . It sounds I'm a dodgey person two different period over stay and conviction. But I'm just purely want to be pregnant partner side because she obviously need a physical help from partner but she can't get one because INZ . I follow them order so I don't get 5yrs ban and INZ told me I could apply visa offshore. But once I did they don't even providing me a entery level visa. I just feel weakness and hopeless after providing all the evidence to INZ then decline.

And let my partner suffer from distress and depression that father figure is missing from the time she needs emotional , physical support.

Thanks in advance

Nga mihi