Advice regarding one way AKL or CHC to U.S availability

I'm planning a trip with my partner to New Zealand in Mid April. We already have the tickets there from our home airport on United. I am starting to look at flights home and if we should pay cash or use points. We have about 200k capital one points and ~230k chase points between us. We used my chase points on United for the flights to Auckland on a saver fare. I read the sidebar on New Zealand and checked LifeMiles, Aeroplan, Virgin Atlantic, United, Cathay Pacific, and Quantas. Since this is only 6 months out, I know inventory will be tight for reward flights. Would I have better luck finding a cash flight and booking that or wait until it gets closer and see what is available close in to departure? We don't have to fly to our home airport on one ticket. and are willing to fly to say Houston and from Houston pay cash for the flight home to Philly.