Filming for
The Hobbit, to be produced by Peter Jackson, looks set
to take place in the Wakatipu - at least according to an
Otago Conservancy status report.
"Two big-budget films here or on the way - Tracker and The
Hobbit. Both on public conservation land," Department of
Conservation Wakatipu area manager Greg Lind said in his
update, received at the last Otago Conservation Board's
meeting at St Bathans.
Rumours surround The Hobbit, which Jackson is
confirmed to produce and Guillermo del Toro (Pan's
Labyrinth) to direct.
Both are involved in writing the 2011 film, and a 2012 sequel
of specially invented events linking to The Lord of the
Rings trilogy.
Mr Lind was unavailable for comment yesterday, and Doc
Wakatipu has not received an application for filming on
public conservation land from any company associated with
The Hobbit, community relations ranger Anna Humphries
said yesterday.
A Wingnut Films spokesman said the Wellington-based
production company was not aware of the Doc report, locations
had not been decided and it was too early to comment.
Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings, of
Queenstown, said the last time Wingnut filmed hobbits in the
area, it was a huge boom for the region and country "in terms
of job creation, raising awareness of film-making
capabilities and incredible exposure of New Zealand for the
tourism sector".
Tracker, a New Zealand action thriller starring
Temuera Morrison, is being shot in rugged terrain around
Queenstown.
