Just because seats are for sale for cash does not mean Air NZ are offering those seats for awards.
Air NZ is notorious for not offering award seats to Star Alliance frequent flyers.
4 awards seats on the same flight can be hard at the best on time
Assuming you mean 4 award seats ON AIR NZ "can be hard at best"? I'm finding plenty of availability for 4 award seats on the indirect routings mentioned in the original post, so you're saying Air NZ is notoriously stingy with giving out award seats to Star Alliance member airlines? And you must only be referring to their stinginess as it relates to their long-haul routings, as Aeroplan IS finding 4 award seats on Air NZ on the SYD to AKL portion of the YVR -> SYD -> AKL option available to me via Aeroplan.com.