Stand by flights to NZ

Hi there,

So ideally I would like to fly from Rarotonga or some other close by island back to NZ. Does anyone know how easy it is to go on stand-by for a flight at the airport and just get on if there are no seats? Also does it end up being cheaper or more expensive?
Thanks!

If you mean you'd only buy your standby ticket out of Rarotonga once there, bear in mind that holding a ticket out of the country is the standard requirement to be allowed in there in the first place.
Same in all other Pacific island nations.

So, you must buy your tickets both into and out of the islands in advance.