As an Australian, I prefer to earn/redeem on AA, because of this fact. Also, note that partner awards allow you to connect on flights, and open-jaw one side, i.e. you could do PER-SYD-AKL-ZQN and then CHC-SYD-PER if you could get availability.

Note that you'll earn miles on almost all QANTAS domestic flights, except N class which are the more expensive Red-E-Deals.

Using United Miles are also good value in Australia/New Zealand, and even more so to South Pacific.