http://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/film/133238/thousands-hobbit-rallies?page=0%2C1Thousands at Hobbit rallies
Thousands of people gathered around the country today to rally against The Hobbit films moving offshore.
Rallies were held this afternoon in Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Hamilton, Queenstown and Matamata (where the Hobbiton sets have been built).
Organisers of the rallies said they were timed to coincide with the visit of Warner Bros movie executives to discuss moving the two-film adaptation of the J R R Tolkien fantasy away from New Zealand.
The three executives are expected to meet to the films' director, Sir Peter Jackson, today and Prime Minister John Key in Wellington tomorrow.
About a thousand supporters attended the Wellington rally, in Civic Square, some holding signs such as "we support Peter (Jackson)", "Hey Warner we're all bros here" and "we love hobbits".
Weta workshop managing director Sir Richard Taylor told NZPA the rallies aimed to send a message that New Zealand was the "greatest place in the world" to make movies including The Hobbit.
"I'm very keen to see these films go ahead in New Zealand and I wanted to be here with all the other Wellingtonians who are gathering," he said.
Sir Richard said he remained "hopeful" the films would be made in New Zealand: "The alternative is just too bleak to consider."
Wellington's new mayor, Celia Wade-Brown, spoke at the rally, thanking people for showing their support.
"New Zealand and Wellington is a brilliant location to make these films...(Wellington) is a small and beautiful place that is ready to take on the world," she said.
Sir Richard also read out a letter from Sir Peter, in which he described the New Zealand film industry as "a large, noisy, growing family" who he owed a "debt of gratitude" to.
Sir Peter thanked people for their support saying it had been "incredibly heartening" to read their messages.
"This is where Middle Earth was born and this is where it should stay," he said.
He also made a dig at the Australian Labour Union, the Australian Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), which he described as a "destructive organisation".
"We don't open the door to an Australian trade union who will never put the interests of Kiwis first and invest that union with the powers to destroy everything that we have built," he said.
The Hobbit casting director Liz Mullane spoke to the crowd with a message for Warner Bros.
"Don't give up on us. We're a strong, stable nation...please just let us get on with it," she said.
Actress Sophia Elisabeth, who was handing out balloons at the rally, told NZPA keeping The Hobbit in New Zealand would generate work for the entire country.
"Nobody else could make it the way Sir Peter could make it here," she added.
Another supporter, Andrew Moore, said he attended the rally to support many of his friends who worked in the film industry.
"If having more people show up today can convince people we should make the film here then I'd like to be a part of that," he said.
As the rally ended, people let balloons rise to the sky.
About 300 people, including four on horseback, attended the rally in Auckland to hear protest organiser Mark Harrison plead with Warner Brothers to keep the film in New Zealand.
Mr Harrison, an actor, told NZPA he didn't support unionising his trade.
He told the rally that The Hobbit films would be the biggest blockbusters ever if they were filmed in New Zealand.
Most were supportive of a statement from Sir Peter, which he also read to the rally, bar one person who called it "anti-union".
Last week Sir Peter said studio representatives would be in New Zealand "to make arrangements to move the production offshore".
This followed an international union boycott over local actors' wishes to negotiate a collective contract. Actors' Equity subsequently withdrew the international do-not-work recommendation on The Hobbit.
And yesterday the head of the Council of Trade Unions (CTU) said the public should not be under the illusion that there were any industrial issues remaining over filming.
CTU president Helen Kelly said Actors Equity, and its related Australian-based union MEAA had given an absolute assurance that there would be no disruption to the filming of The Hobbit in New Zealand.
"I sincerely hope Warners accept that assurance."
During the weekend, leading United States showbusiness publication Variety reported that it now appeared more likely the movies would be filmed in New Zealand after the threat of labour disruption had receded.
