Buy 'The Surf Report', for all areas your going.
http://www.surfmaps.net/
By the sound of it you'll be flying Air New Zealand, so you shouldn't have to pay any excess charges for your board bag - Air NZ rule!
Take camping gear (and a fishing line), it's the cheapest way to stay on Tahiti and in Fiji you may still be able to camp at the Seashell Cove resort on the main island near Nandi. Seashell Cove used to run boats out to Namoto and Wilkes Pass, don't know if they still do....Forget about Cloudbreak in Fiji unless you splosh the dosh and stay on Tavarua.
You'll find a good left on Raratonga (be sure to look out the window as you land <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) Accomodation is cheap enough in the Cooks and I beleive camping is ilegal there? Hire a moped to get around.
In Aus you best bet would be to buy a car or van and sell it on when you leave. There's always people desperate to sell their vehicles around the main backpaking centres before they leave (e.g. Kings Cross, Sydney. Best to buy in Perth then sell in Sydney). If not you can use the busses or hitch (worked for me a few times, yes even with a board bag), lots of lift shares offered on hostel notice boards. Be sure to join the IYHA (International Youth Hostel Association) before yoe leave. You'll can get some good discount on transport in Aus if you are a member.
NZ - given the choice I'd buy a car as in Aus. But I hitched all around the north island with one board no problems.
Side trips - well if your in Aus why not hop over to Indo when your down to your last few $$ and strech your trip a few more months.
Jobs - well that depends on what your skills are and the level of lowness you are prepared to stoop. If your around the Margaret River area at the right time it should be easy enough to pick up a job picking grapes. If yur going to work apply for the relevant visas:
NZ -
http://www.immigration.govt.nz/Migrant/Stream/Work/WorkingHoliday/default.htm
Aus -
http://www.austemb.org/DIMA/visiting/work_hol.html
Respect the locals, go hard, have fun.
MrG.
