The one little hop in NZ will be tolerable. I did kick in the $20 for
an exit row seat.
Personally I find the layover worse than the flight. We are stuck at
LAX for 9 hours or so. Some of it will be clearing customs but I
still would like to check my stuff and hop in a cab. I may call an LA
friend and meet them for dinner or something.
Ask him to pick you up and take you to a burrito place in San Pedro.
--
Guns don't cause problems. The behavior
of certain gun owners causes problems.