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New Zealand puts big hopes in little Hobbits
In anticipation of the 28 November New Zealand premiere of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Wellington, New Zealand is giving itself a Hobbit-sized makeover.
For the week of the premiere, the city of Wellington, where Jackson’s Weta Workshop is located, is taking on the moniker, "The Middle of Middle Earth."
Shop keepers are being exhorted to transform their businesses into Middle Earth-inspired emporiums. Customs officials are said to be considering a Hobbit-themed stamp for arriving travelers.
Going along for the ride is Air New Zealand, which has transformed entire aircraft to reflect the image of Middle Earth.
The total price tag for the Hobbit-themed makeover is far from Hobbit-sized: about 1.1 million NZ.
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