WELLINGTON, 10 May 2024
I am decidedly poorer after leaving Wētā Cave (the gift shop) than when I entered it.
Goodbye house, car, future, life…
But, hello, all of my cool things. Statues, art prints and more…My room (that I can’t afford anymore) is going to look amazing.
THAT and it was just another dream come true to say that I have stepped inside Wētā Workshop. Damn.
But, before that, I woke up early and as breakfast started getting served, I saw the sunrise over Wellington Bay (specifically Oriental Bay). After that, we meandered to Mt Victoria and the surrounding park and found ourselves at a shortcut…to mushrooms.
We immediately scrambled as Julie selected people in groups and whipped out a horse mask, black cloak, and some mock veggies. But, rather than sacrifice us all in a Wicker Man, we donned our outfits and got to recreate probably one of the most famous scenes in the films.
We hid ourselves from Black Rider’s and filmed the scenes again. The kids on our tour had a great time! Before walking just down a slope and found ourselves at another location! The camp Frodo and Sam have when they suddenly hear the Wood Elves passing by toward the Havens.
Joseph and I got to recreate a great shot, complete with pipes, and the whole scene *blew* me away.
Then a trip to the top of the hill to the Mt Victoria lookout point where we got to see so much over the city! The sun was beautiful, and despite it being autumn, I was happily reminded that Aotearoa, like Aus, has no O-Zone…
Great.
Luckily, we weren’t long there before our break-neck tour continued toward the much coveted destination. The Wētā cave.
…I’m not going to write here just how much was spent, but my office at home is about to look incredible when several artworks, a Hobbit hole and a miniature statue of Gandalf adorn it. They’re being shipped to the UK…
…that and the one thing that was only available to be shipped from NZ and therefore is coming in my suitcase – a 1:6 statue of a Nazgûl (Ringwraith). It is 5kg. Now, it’s my child on the bus.
That all said, check out the insanely cool armour and works on display we could photograph!
After that, we have the second highlight. Lunch at the Roxy, a preserved Art Deco cinema, helpfully saved and renovated by Richard and Tanya Taylor of Wētā, proof that big money *can** be used well. It was a beautiful building. After a lovely lunch (in which I got a special vegan version with some a-mazing roasties!), we went exploring. The second floor, with a huge painted ceiling, was breathtaking. As an old film graduate, seeing the cinema littered with old posters and projectors, merch and beyond, was perfect.
We explored around, seeing a beautiful statue of the Argonath, which we couldn’t buy in Wētā, sadly. Finally, with a stack of photos safely taken, and a little tan from the very safe, very good, O-Zone free sunshine, we headed to Wētā for our workshop and our tour.
Again, this is a time when I can show you the entrance, and I can show you the workshop we did, with a heap of props (and this wonderful sword fight between friends…)
…but, I can’t show you a single thing from inside the tour. They made have made the things inside, but they don’t own the licensing of a shred of it…and I don’t want suing, thank you very much.
But…I can now say I’ve seen and held, Elrond’s longsword, the zombie sheep from Black Sheep, Krampus, Éowyn’s helmet, several dwarf helms, Orcrist, Sting, the Citadel and Fountain Guards of Minas Tirith’s full armour and a Cave Troll penis (seen, not held. Oo La La)
It was incredibly informative, and our guide was incredibly inspiring, particularly for the kids in our group. More people need to be told to be creative, make things, and don’t lose that spark. Shoot for the moon.
We might not all make it, but if we don’t try, no one will.
After that, McKenzie, Joseph, Jon, myself and Liam and Emma went for some vegan Thai food…the *Thai dishes were impeccable…sadly, it took seven years to arrive. But, that’s not really the take away of the day.
I’m more thinking of Richard’s, Peter’s and Tanya’s mantra for Wētā…
“Be Creative and Make Cool Stuff”
– Jake,
12 May 2024
The Long Expected Journey 