We flew from LAX to Auckland, and then on to Christchurch where we picked up the Maui Camper; on the return trip we stopped in Fiji for four nights - $1100 R/T each. There are military air / Space-A flights into Christchurch in support of Antarctica, but they are infrequent, and space is very iffy!
Regarding the buy back program (and most of the NZ campervan rental companies offer it), you buy a used camper from Maui (or whomever) and sign their buyback agreement. You need to have prearranged this before traveling to NZ!!. Campers offered under the program are used, typically six to eight years old and run the gambit from small two berth vans up to well equipped class C campers. Used camper prices vary, according to what you want to purchase, from approximately 20,000 NZD (15,000 USD) up to 100,000 NZD (75,000 USD). The seller will agree in writing to purchase the unit back from you for 55% of the original sale price, provided the unit has not traveled more than 30,000 kms (approximately 18,000 miles), that you have maintained and serviced the unit, no accidents and that you obtain a certificate of road worthiness to prove its acceptability, under NZ law. Renting our camper required that we purchase Maui’s insurance, at about $5.00/day - not very cost effective. Should you purchase the camper, the insurance will be considerably less expensive. One note: I did not think to ask back then about reimbursement of the NZ GST (as Canada will do).
