It's true. The route starts in September, LGW to Auckland via Hong Kong. My source tells me the primary reason for introducing it is complaints from pax about the appalling treatment they receive from US Immigration in LAX on the 2-hour stopover from LHR to Auckland. Apparently thousands of pax have written in saying they love AirNZ but will travel via the Far East, i.e. on a different airline, in future to avoid being treated like criminals by officious US Immigration staff.