I've read somewhere on one of these expat forums (might be this one or might be another one) where a same sex couple were able to get a long extension on their visitors visa (like 1 year or so) so no working or volunteering on that visa though.
You can try to ring Immigration to ask, you could just say you are asking for your sister or something.
Wow, no volunteering? Ok then.
No need to work, I'm financially well standing.
I've been told you can't renew the 1yr visitors visa, do you have more info on this? We are here for approx 2yrs, and we've been here 6 months already, with myself going back home 3 monthly.