They just opened up United MEL-LAX on 787-9 starting end of October (currently nothing available past Jan 16). Take the savings from the fuel surcharge and spend it on a SYD-AKL-MEL Open Jaw ticket. (Fuel surcharge AKL-NRT-YVR was $450)
There seems to be a blackout period on NZ between Dec 12 and Jan 7, so good luck getting the flight on Jan 2...