Questions About Work Visa, Residency, and Citizenship Timeline in NZ

Hi everyone, I live in another country but I’ve recently received an offer to work in Auckland, New Zealand, with a salary of over 100k. The company is sponsoring my work visa and immigration to NZ, and handling the entire visa process, which I really appreciate. I’m currently in the very early stages of planning, but my ultimate goal is to gain citizenship (hopefully within the minimum 5-year requirement of residency).

Here’s where I’m a little confused, and I’d love some advice: 1) Does the 5-year residency requirement for citizenship start counting from the day I land in New Zealand on a work visa? Or does it start only after I obtain residency?

2) If I need to first obtain a residency visa for this countdown to begin, is there anything I can do to fast-track getting a residence visa?

3) Are there any tips, programs, or pathways I should be aware of to make the process quicker or more seamless?

Any insights or experiences would be super helpful. Thanks in advance for your advice!