NZ banks on hobbit-led economy boost

A scene from the soon-to-be released Lord of the Rings movie trilogy

By CNN's Grant Holloway

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- The New Zealand government is betting heavily on a hobbit-led economic boost following the release next month of the first Lord of the Rings movie.

Such is the expected popularity of the NZ-made films based on JRR Tolkien's fantasy novel, the government has even appointed a Minister for Lord of the Rings.

Prime Minister Helen Clark is investing nearly $2 million (NZ $4.5 million) in promoting New Zealand's tourist attractions and agricultural exports on the back of the premiere of the first of the three Rings movies in London, England on Dec. 10.

The first movie, the Fellowship of the Ring, was filmed at 35 NZ locations including picturesque Queenstown in the Southern Alps.

The Tolkien novel, written in 1954, about hobbits, trolls, elves and wizards who inhabit a fantasy Middle Earth has sold an estimated 100 million copies worldwide and attracts cultish devotees.

As evidence of this, the Lord of the Rings movie website has received more than 450 million hits so far.

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Leading NZ movie director Peter Jackson has spent seven years filming three Lord of the Rings movies which will star actors such as Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett and Christopher Lee.

The Minister for the Lord of the Rings, Pete Hodgson, will coordinate NZ's promotional efforts, which will also push NZ's claims as a location for feature films.

"Lord of the Rings presents a unique opportunity to showcase our country to the world," Clark said in a statement.

"There are significant and ongoing spinoffs for the tourist, computer software, film-making, wine and food, and dozens of other local industries," she said.

The NZ government is also planning major promotional activity to coincide with the running of the Americas Cup yachting regatta in the northern city of Auckland early in 2003.

Reuters contributed to this report.