Thanx again for the welcome and replies. Good to hear the NZ rep was wrong. That makes a lot of planning easier. Now, my only question seems to be which of 2 options are cheaper:

1. Fly ORD-LAX/SFO/other jumping off point -> Circle Pacific fare to layover GUM Dec 2005 until Feb 07, 06 (when my friend can get to Australia), continue thru Aus/NZ/S Pacific to PPT, then end in HNL (can anyone tell me if airlines consider PPT-HNL a valid routing for a CirPac fare that is traveling Eastward, since PPT is East of HNL?) -> buy a r/t HNL-GUM

or 2. when ready to start trip, buy r/t ORD-LON and nest a Great Escapade RTW ticket starting after 01/15/06 (890GBP), traveling LON-LAX-PPT and S. Pacific-AKL-SYD-HKG (and nest a separate HKG-GUM ticket, fulfilling GUM obligation until 12/15/06), then continue Great Escapade HKG-SIN-(optionally DEL)-LON -> return on original ORD-LON r/t?

With the first option, I'd be able to spend a little more time in GUM, which is a bonus, so I'd be willing to spend a little more for that option. I'll also price on my own, but I'd appreciate opinions.

Also, re:NZ routes through S. Pacific, since I want to go to every island that NZ travels (time permitting, also NOU and Norfolk), and I'd be traveling entirely eastward, from West to East, it is NAN-TBU-APW-RAR-PPT... since NZ has direct flights btw AKL-NAN-RAR-PPT and AKL-TBU-APW, I was just assuming that to travel through all islands I'd have to go AKL-NAN-AKL-TBU-APW-AKL-RAR-PPT. However, I've never flown these islands or RTW tickets before now, so please correct me if I'm wrong and a more direct routing is possible on either a Circle Pacific or RTW-style ticket.

And thanks to all for weeding through an initially LONG email!