Via SF, LA, or Houston.  Houston airport has become pretty nice.  

August is winter of course, spring equinox for them is Sept 22, equivalent to March 22 for us.  The ski areas seem to have become pretty expensive--the Queenstown ski and adventure holiday area has been booming.  

The Raglan area beaches are among the most consistent in New Zealand, and the world.  It's a combination of southern hemisphere swell and favorable local terrain.  Raglan water temperature is likely to be in the mid to upper 50s.  

You can book flights from Orlando for about $1,012 round trip.   

New Plymouth.