my son in law has a small university grant to exchange informations with a university in wellington. He's having trouble getting a decent airfare for late may. Any suggestions??

I don't suppose your son is taking a gun but, considering their new prejudice against shooters, may I suggest he avoids Air NZ, even if they are the cheapest.

butchloc just to support what sambarman338 said above, I would recommend travelling with any airline EXCEPT Air New Zealand.

Air New Zealand are obviously anti firearm and have introduced a fee for handling firearms, quite a substantial fee.

Hawaiian seem to have cheap airfares ex LA to Auckland

Interesting that you cant get a reasonable price from the USA. We get screwed on air tickets to anywhere from inside NZ - Its often cheaper for us to use a US-based booking agent than to book locally.

And as Kiwishooter says , why support the theiving, lying bastards at Air New Zealand if there is an alternative?

We are here in NZ right now hunting. We paid about $1800 for Vancouver-Sydney-Christchurch
Had an AMAZING hunt with Ngahere Outfitters by the way!!!
Great in every way!!
PM me if anyone has an interest in a great hunt

Pretty warm right now. Did you hunt Tahr? Pics!!!!

My buddy hunted a tahr and chamois near Fox Glacier.. I hunted a Beautiful Red Stag,Fallow buck, Ram, Goat, and Wallabies, near Waimate..
Really, really tough grinding on this Ranch, with a lot of climbing, and fighting the Goss bushes...
I live in Alberta, and found it very comparable to my last Bighorn Ram...
I will have to get my buddy to post photos, as I haven't learned that yet...
Stag scored 425-6/8ths, Fallow was Silver Medal, but I forgot the scoresheet at the Outfitters...Ram was 36-3/4"...
We have been in NZ now for two and a half weeks, and are having a SUPER time!!! Great people!! great Cheese!! Great Beer!! Great Hunting!! Great Fishing!!
Headed for Australia in two days to go diving on the reef...

kit@esplanadetours.com
They're right on the money with Air NZ and US connections, use them personally and for our guiding operations.