The Long Expected Journey

AUCKLAND – MATAMATA (HOBBITON) – ROTORUA, 7 May 2024

Dreams really do come true.

Let’s start this chapter with a flashback.

LEICESTERSHIRE, CIRCA 2002

I was 9 years old, and my theatrical VHS of ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’ was broken. I was really torn up, I loved this film.  So my Mum took it to the shop and changed it – I think now that she bought another copy. But, this copy didn’t look like the other one, I thought. Where were the faces? The actors? Instead, there was just a rich, leafy green and the title. Nothing more.

That was the first time I saw an “Extended Edition” (and yes, they are the only worthwhile way of watching the trilogy!). Even better than just all the added scenes and context and drama…was the ending. There was an extra 45 minute “making of” on the tape that I devoured.

It changed my life. I saw the most collaborative thing I’d ever seen, Peter Jackson, the crew, the cast, artists, builders, propmasters, writers. It was beautiful. I looked at it and immediately knew – that is what I want to do. So I did. Most of that documentary centered on the set (then temporary and rebuilt permanently for The Hobbit) and colour grading of Hobbiton, built on a farm in Matamata on the North island.

So since I was 9, I’ve dreamt of walking through the cobble-walled road toward Bagshot Row on The Hill.

Flash forward…21 years later

And that’s precisely what I’m doing, and as a professional actor, no less. Full circle, indeed.

We first made our way out of Auckland after a wonderful breakfast, meeting Liam and Emily, friends from Glasgow, chatting more with McKenzie and Joseph, and toward Matamata over beautiful rolling hills and mountains that took the Malverns and dialled then up to 11, even giving the Brecon Beacons of Wales a damn good run for their money!

On arrival we went shopping and grabbed a coffee, a much better way to order things in my opinion, as we could then leave the tour and travel with much more high energy and excitement than having it dissipate with retail therapy. I bought a few things, mainly a great little baseball cap…or as I prefer it…the Director’s Cap. Ron Howard, eat your heart out!!!

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The holes are gorgeously designed, some large scale (for Hobbit actors), and some small (for “tall” actors that need to shoot for scale. Each home is unique for a unique hobbit, some mentioned, some created. We walked Bagshot Row, saw the Old Gaffer Gamgee’s house (Samwise’s dad), Sam and Rosie’s house, saw the party tree, and, for book fans, you can walk past Ted Sandyman’s Mill (who briefly appears in the LOTR movies) which works and wheels away as you cross the bridge to the Green Dragon, where I happily drank a legitimately *phenomenal* stout. As a Brit, it felt like a real home.

Other highlights were walking THROUGH a Hobbit home, with roaring wood fire and pipe smoke that took me immediately back to one of my Grandpa’s houses! We finished our time by grabbing an amazing buffet lunch in the Party Marquee.

To post all 200 photos I took just on my phone alone is folly, as is trying to capture the majesty of it all. It really is NOT a tourist, theme-park-ified, cash in. It’s literally a preserved film set. Knowing that we were literally walking the set that the Hobbit was filmed on is insane on its own.

Enjoy some highlights:

After finishing up in Hobbiton we journeyed two hours East to Rotorua where we stayed at a gorgeous hotel surrounded by natural hot springs. Jon and I made our way to them to soak in the 40c springs (both Acidic and Alkaline springs) for an hour, sadly without taking any pictures! Sorry, not sorry.

Then we quickly changed for a night at the Mitai Māori Village for an evening of cutural exposure, learning and an incredible buffet.

…Now, maybe it’s just me, but when I hear “dinner night out and cultural experience”, I think formal, or at least smart! I suited up in a burgundy suit and pink shirt (this is relevant) and headed to the lobby. When I got there, I noticed no one else was wearing anything like me, all good, each to their own! Then Julie came over and said, “Jake, just to let you know, as you’ve dressed so smartly and suavely, you’ve been elected as the Chief for this evening’s ceremony at Mitai.”

I thought Oh no! I’m English, then, It’s a peace ceremony! Amazing. That’s a bit nicer then. But, I don’t want to represent “The English”. They’re the villains, and finally, Ah. It’ll be okay. They don’t really mean Chief.

Reader, I was wrong.

We arrived at Mitai and we found out that several groups were there as well as us. Actually, it was around 200 people. Then, our guide and host for the night, Te, introduced himself and made us all laugh with his deadpan sarcasm. It was shaping up to be amazing! We ventured into the dark forest of the reconstructed traditional pā (village) and saw the procession of a traditionally made war canoe, a wake (wah-kay). Then came the ceremony. By this point, Te had told me a few things as the elected “Chief of the Visitors”.

1. No smiling or laughing. This is highly insulting.
2. The Leaf of the tribe will be placed by the tribe’s representative challenger and I must pick it up to signal peace, without breaking eye contact or turning around.
3. I had to make a speech (this I tried to think of when watching the canoe). Te said “something reverential, grateful. Something that means something to you being here today.”
4. Photos and videos (other than before the tribe arrived and after the peace ceremony) were strictly forbidden.

Then came the “Orator’s” speech in Te Reo Māori. Te translated privately to me on stage, whispering that the audience was being thanked for coming here in peace, but that he was making a special mention of my suit to say that the colours matched my Kahu huruhuru (a feather cloak given to dignitaries. Jacinda Ardern wore one in Buckingham Palace, I was in good company.) and that that must mean that I was fated to be here today as the Chief of the Visitors. Then the speech. I wanted to acknowledge this event, this culture and not treat it as a tourist trap. That truly is NOT what this was at all. The weight of the ceremony hit me the moment Te spoke to me about it. This was very real, very deep and very serious in its reverence. I wanted to honour and respect that.

My speech:

Kia Ora. History tells us where we are from, but the Present tells us where we are and where we’re going. There are so many countries, languages, identities and cultures here tonight. But, tonight we can all come together and show that Humanity works at its best, when we work together. Kia Ora.

We watched an amazing show of Toi Whakaari (performing arts). Dances, weapon displays, games and songs, ended by a haka. It was beautiful. Spectacular even, and incredibly moving. The Chief broke into English and threw out joke after joke too.
Then the evening led us back to our large tent for a huge hāngī (a MASSIVE buffet, entirely cooked in a natural earth-oven) where I feasted on smoked sweet potatoes, roasties, salad and gorgeous bake, along with a steamed pudding that was divine.
Finally, Jon, McKenzie and I grouped up to walk with the whole crowd on a final tour of the village and we got to see sacred glow worms lighting up the wall! I wish I could have got a picture of it, but nothing was penetrating that darkness.

And so, there we go. That’s all in a single day. I’m currently writing this about to go out and have a lovely time catching up with my partner back in the UK and seeing Taupō and its beautiful lake and thinking about this being all of my yesterday feels like a dream.

I guess they really do come true.
Here’s looking at you, 9 year old me.
Kia Ora.

– Jake, Chief of the Visitors
8 May 2024

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P.S. Jon is also writing about his version of events over on his Tumblr page, Misplaced Midlanders! Check it out!