Al B is correct (as usual) that the AKL-SFO route is the first route to have 'guaranteed' new product on AirNZ - from sometime in August IIRC, first on the refitted 744s and then (from October) on the brand new 772s. However, there are only 3x weekly flights SFO-AKL vs 2x daily flights LAX-AKL so it may not work in with your schedule. On the other hand, if you get an old style 744 you may be able to snag one of the old F seats if you have status and ask nicely at check in - they might be outclassed as F seats but they are definitely better than the current J seats on UA and AC (which, in turn, are better than NZ's current J seats).