Even though New Zealand is enormous compared with all those tiny specks that dot the map of the Pacific Ocean, and it looks like it might be a little brother to Australia, it is indeed part of Polynesia. The native Māoris of New Zealand are descendants of Polynesians that arrived from other Pacific islands. I had a layover in Auckland on my way to Melbourne, but I don’t really consider myself having been to New Zealand as I never left the international zone of the airport. So that needs to change! I will say one thing: Air New Zealand is way better than Qantas. Their food blows Qantas’s away. And the service is also quite good. Reason enough to make the long haul across the Pacific to Middle Earth!