I'm looking at getting a longer stickbait rod, preferably 8 foot 6 plus for land based stickbaiting. Will be matched to a twinpower 10,000 with 65lb jerry borwn hollow, most of my lures are around the 100-130gram mark.

Pretty hard trying to get a good sweep with a long rod from the bricks in most places. I wouldn't go much longer than 8'

If it's the lighter offshore Illusion, keep it, you won't get much better IMO. Best blanks for the bricks. I think you will find their 7'6" is closer to 8'. I'm sure they could do you a custom at 8'6", they do a 8'6" but think it's heavier.

fish i wrote: Pretty hard trying to get a good sweep with a long rod from the bricks in most places. I wouldn't go much longer than 8' If it's the lighter offshore Illusion, keep it, you won't get much better IMO. Best blanks for the bricks. I think you will find their 7'6" is closer to 8'. I'm sure they could do you a custom at 8'6", they do a 8'6" but think it's heavier.

There is a 9'6" 50–120gm Demonblood that the Morning Tide boys rate, I think they are using lighter lures, but once again I don't think Daiwa bring them in to NZ.

Put a wanted post in the Buy & Sell section - someone may have a suitable rod they would part with. I was lucky enough to score a Shimano 86SM Ocean Bluefin rod a couple years back, 8'6" and very powerful. There might be another round but not sure if you'd get one for your budget. 

It was very light but seemed a bit soft in the action, it may have been a different folding design compared to other rods I've bent. nice finish and they have a following so they can probably handle the jandal....
There is a 86SM on GT popping (2nd page) that is advertised for $650, a screaming deal considering they retail for $1400 http://www.gtpopping.com/forum/index.php/topic,7317.0.html
I have a Shimano Tiralejo 9ft 2 piece that is rated for 30-65lb braid, I have bent 10kg of drag over it. I bought it specifically for light stick bait and general bait fishing duties and rate it as a good general purpose rod. If you were going to fish 65lb hard it wouldnt really suit, it's probably more a 50lb rod for the upper range.....

Bit of a thread resurrection, took delivery of a Japanese rod today. Ended up getting this through the Plat summer sale. 

PE 8? That will slay the snapper without much bending :)
What's the action like from just handling it on land?
There aren't too many rods around that length that dont cost an arm and a leg. The Zenaq's have some longer rods, I am thinking about getting a blank (9ft, PE 6) and getting it made up. I have a JM shore jigger that's rated to 13kg but thats at 45 deg and bending like it's going to snap....