THIS is the FlightGlobal article on the topic.
It says:
Air New Zealand is the first airline to purchase the 330-minute ETOPS option. "This means the airplane is able to fly a straighter route between the city pairs and that's good for the environment," said Capt David Morgan, Air New Zealand's chief pilot.
The new FAA approval allows "airlines that operate routes in the south Pacific, over the North Pole, and from Australia to South America and southern Africa to fly the most direct routes", added Boeing.
I do enjoy how they spin the more direct routings as "good for the environment" rather than "saving money on fuel".