The Hobbit

The Hobbit, featuring the vistas of Queenstown and Otago as part of Middle Earth, wrapped on Friday and entered the post-production phase before the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on November 28.

Holiday park owners have been told they have "an opportunity across the board to make some improvements" in preparation for a expected tourism influx.

The world's eyes will be on New Zealand over the next 24 months, thanks to The Hobbit; and it is time to promote the country as the place to visit, do business and shoot more films on location, Tourism New Zealand says.

Overseas actors working on The Hobbit films are still protected by union agreements negotiated abroad but New Zealand film production staff have been "stripped of their rights", Associate Prof Ian McAndrew, of the University of Otago, says.

Kiwi director Peter Jackson has hit back at criticism of the faster frame rates he's using to shoot his two Hobbit films, saying he's "not going to stop".

Sir Peter Jackson raised concerns in 2010 about immigration rules required to bring Hobbit film workers into the country - and the Government gave him an assurance it would intervene to ensure he would not face problems.

The Hobbit pub in the south of England appears to have been saved, thanks to the efforts of The Hobbit film actors Stephen Fry and Sir Ian McKellen.

The dramatic natural beauty of Otago is being displayed to the world by The Hobbit, even before a frame is presented in cinemas, and regional tourism chiefs could not be happier.

Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly will join the world of Middle Earth to play a dwarf warrior in Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" films, the director said, completing the casting of the two long-awaited movies.

A casting call for extras in Sir Peter Jackson's movie The Hobbit had to close its doors early on Saturday after being overwhelmed with hopefuls.