New Zealand...never done longhaul before

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Dh has a son in NZ who is desperate for us to visit 2020. I have never given NZ a thought before.
Never done a flight more than 8 hours.
Any ideas to make it bearable...we are 2 adults and will be 60. Also fab things to do there...is 2 weeks enough?

Make it more bearable by stopping on the way - Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore or somewhere in middle east?
If you are retired I would go for longer than 2 weeks and then you can break the journey on the way there and back.
I have been to NZ 5 times and love it - load of fab things to do. Some of my favourites:
Trans Alpine express from Christchurch to Greymouth
Napier for its art deco architecture
Penguins in Omaru
Rotorua
Akaroa peninsula for dolphins
Kaikoura for whale watching
Waiheke island
Wine is fabulous - especially in Marlborough area
I don't think I've been anywhere in NZ that I didn't like.

If you can possibly afford a bit extra, go for Premium Economy - much more space, and meals on proper plates. We've been twice - once with Air NZ and once with BA. Air NZ was much better, but more expensive than BA.

I have been with Cathay and Air NZ - and air NZ is the better of the two.

Make sure you walk around on the flight and don’t have the layovers to close together or you’ll end up sprinting for the plane while desperate to wee like us. Loads to do in NZ - it’s a beautiful country. Do go up to Bay of Islands and Cape Reinga

Seriously avoid any stopovers, refuels at LAX, hideous place to wait. My Dad comes down here every couple of years and thinks Singapore is the best route, plus he finds the airport easy to navigate.

NZ has very little functional public transport outside Auckland or Wellington, so expect to drive.

Coromandel Peninsula is gorgeous with interesting gems to see and do, Hot Water Beach, Whitianga with the Captain Cook history etc...
Waitangi Treaty Grounds
Bay of Islands, Russell has some pleasant day or two day cruises

If you do a stop over, do it for several days. NZ friends go Air NZ and stop at LA. I can assure you that a few days in Santa Monica is lovely!

Don’t ever go for 2 weeks. You need 4. The travelling isn’t nice and, if you can afford it, go premium or business. You will sleep if you do!

Another friend goes Emirates via Dubai. Often competitive pricing. Others have gone BA and have been happy. They sometimes stop off in Sydney too. It depends whether you like the idea of breaking up the flying into smaller chunks and where you might like to visit en route. The inside of an airport isn’t appealing. I’m sure your family can advise. Everyone has an opinion!

I always transit through HK (but I live in mainland China) - it's a vg airport and the newly renovated cathay business lounges have great food (xmas cake and mince pies when I was there last month together with all the usual snacks). From HK it's an 11 hour flight to Auckland. Personally I don't sleep that well, even in business (have always flown business to NZ) and prefer a stop to make the journey bearable.

Korean Air does reasonably priced business class, close in cost to Premium economy. Pay the extra, it's worth it (lie flat beds). Seoul Airport has showers, use them on the way through. If you fly business, you get a free hotel room on the layover on the way back (19 hours)

We went in October for 3 weeks and a wonderful time, we are 56 and 57.The people are really lovely.
We flew singapore airlines, 3 hr transfer in Singapore and paid extra for legroom in economy,came out to £500 for 2 of us.

We also transfered straight to Queenstown so a third flight.
Started off 2nights in Queenstown then overnight cruise in Milford Sound.
1 night Wanaka
2 nights Franz Josef for glacier helicopter trip
Train from greymouth to Christchurch
1 night christchurch
1 night Kaikura for whale watching which was cancelled
2 nights in Nelson for Abel Tasman kayaking etc
Picton to Wellington ferry (paid extra for lounge well worth it)
1 night Wellington
1 night Napier
2 nights Taupo
2 night Rotorura (coincidence was the day Harry and Meghan were there)
3 nights Taranaki area for a Wedding
2 nights Auckland. Flew home via Singapore

We also went to Weta Studios ,Hobbiton set, geysers etc
We would love to go back but it is not cheap and takes so long to get there.
I loved Napier and met May Robin who modelled for the Mermaid Statue.
I dont think 2 weeks are enough. We were away 3 and half weeks and there was so much more to see.
We got flights through trail finders who were competitive with what we found on internet.

We have family in NZ but I'm not preprared to go that far and for that much money for two weeks so trying to negotitate longer holiday with work. I want at least 3, if not 4 weeks.

Have a stopover or fly business if you can afford it .

Stop over in Singapore for a couple of nights. I thin (may be wrong) that if you fly Singapore Airlines you get really good discounts on amazing hotels and a free City Tour throw. In

I was in South Island for two weeks recently. Drove around from Dunedin to Greymouth and caught the Tranzalpine train to Christians had a couple of days there.

There is so much to see and do.

From the UK, I wouldn't go for any less than three weeks. It's pricey, so a bit of self catering sling the way, will help save some money and a lot of hotels have a mini kitchen area (assuming you'd do some exploring as well as visiting your DH's son.

We set off on Sunday night Heathrow and got to NZ tuesday morning, Coming home was leaving Tuesday morning NZ time and landing Wednesday morning our time., that was with short Singapore stopover.

Amazing place with so much to do - go for as long as you can! I agree carefully planned stopovers are key to making the flights manageable.