The Hobbit is here New Zealand 'With live updates'
This is the biggest news story Dribble NZ News has been working on since last years Chirstchurch earthquake.
Dribble NZ News start LIVE UPDATES at 3.30pm
The Hobbit is here, below is the headlines from Wellington regarding the movie.
HEADLINES RIGHT NOW REGARDING THE HOBBIT
- One News and 3News both start their coverage from around 4pm and 4.30pm.
- Wellington is hosting the worldwide premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
- Dribble NZ News start Live Updates at 3.30pm
- It is the first of a trilogy of films based on JRR Tolkien's book and directed by Sir Peter Jackson
- Stars are due to begin arriving on the red carpet from 4pm as 3News comes to air
LESS THEN AN HOUR TO GO
Around 4000 Tolkien fans have already gathered in the capital ahead of the much anticipated premiere of The Hobbit in Wellington tonight.
Tens of thousands of fans are expected to line the streets around the Embassy Theatre this afternoon eager to catch a glimpse of the film's all-star cast.
onenews.co.nz reporter Jessica Beresford says there are people everywhere.
"The crowd stretches the whole 500-metres of the red carpet. The atmosphere is pretty amazing, and everyone is surprisingly happy considering most have been waiting in the sun for around 4 hours now."
Beresford said most fans are waiting to see Sir Peter Jackson despite the star-studded cast.
Have you seen stars of The Hobbit in New Zealand? Send your pictures to news@tvnz.co.nz
Hundreds camped out overnight on Courtenay Place for the premiere and have now secured their places near the red carpet.
The Wellington street is trending on Twitter, with one person saying: "The number of people already on Courtenay Place when it's not even 9am is insane."
Stars of the Hobbit movie spoke at a news conference earlier today and Sir Peter assured fans the premiere should go ahead without issue.
"As long as we have some petrol in the car to drive the film to the Embassy, we're ok," he told the conference.
Hobbit actor Mark Hadlow told TV ONE's Breakfast programme he is "very excited" to be in Wellington for the premiere.
"I can't believe that so many people have slept out waiting for this to happen today," he says.
"I mean how wonderful. The energy and the vibe in Wellington is just extraordinary."
The veteran Kiwi actor praised Sir Peter, saying: "Look at what he's done for us. Look at what he's doing for New Zealand."
"It's the biggest film and it's been made in New Zealand and it's premiering in Wellington in New Zealand. How more exciting could it get? No."
Hadlow said the film could not have been filmed anywhere else in the world.
RED CARPET IS ALL THE EXCITE
Pre-carpet entertainment will begin at 3pm today and the filmmakers and stars of the film will begin to walk the more than 500 metres of red carpet from Reading Cinema to The Embassy Theatre at 4.30pm.
Musician Neil Finn and his sons will be playing for the crowds at 4pm and film director James Cameron will be among those making an appearance at the premiere, Matthew Dravitski of Peter Jackson's Wingnut Films says.
At 6.30pm there will be speeches by Sir Peter Jackson, the Prime Minister and her Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown. Then, at 7pm the film will screen at the Embassy Theatre and Reading Cinema Complex.
Sir Richard Taylor, co-founder and co-director of the Weta companies, told Breakfast the "whole crew are going to a big party near the red carpet and my family and I will be walking it".
Sir Richard told Breakfast's weatherman Tamati Coffey: "I'm late for the first time this year this morning, because we've been watching your news broadcast."
Dravitski told Breakfast he is looking forward to seeing the final cut of the movie.
"I'll be seeing it for the first time beginning to end tonight - which I'm really excited about," he says. "I've seen all of it in pieces but not consecutively."
The forecast for today's big event is expected to be sunny with highs of around 19 degrees celsius.
New Zealand audiences will be able to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey when it hits screens on December 12. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is due for release in December 2013 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again is due out in July 2014.
A timetable of events ahead of The Hobbit World Premiere in Wellington this afternoon.
12pm: The Hobbit Market at Waitangi Park opens
2pm: Pre-screening entertainment – including giveaways - in Courtneay Place begins.
3.30pm: Dribble NZ News start LIVE UPDATES
4pm: Neil Finn plays in front of the Embassy Theatre, The Hobbit Market closes.
4pm - LIVESTREAM on TV3 or at tv3.co.nz: The Hobbit - World Premiere and Red Carpet
4:30pm: Stars and VIPs arrive on the Red Carpet.
5:30pm: Air New Zealand’s Hobbit plane will fly over Courtenay Place.
6:30pm: Sir Peter Jackson, Prime Minister John Key and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown to speak.
7pm: VIP screenings begin at the Embassy and Reading cinemas.
9:50pm: Premiere screenings end.
NEW ZEALAND HERALD: 'Hobbit-mania' kicks off in Wellington
The party is getting underway in downtown Wellington as thousands of Hobbit fans wait for stars to walk the red carpet ahead of the premiere of Sir Peter Jackson's new film.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has its world premiere at the Embassy Theatre tonight in front of a selected audience.
Thousands of people have gathered at a security barrier that runs along the red carpet, with the first eager fans camping overnight to get into prime position.
Entertainment is being provided to keep the large crowd amused throughout the day, with hobbit characters stopping for photos with excited fans.
Singer Neil Finn is expected to play on a stage, complete with Hobbit homes, set up near the theatre.
Large cave trolls are overlooking the carpet - the 1800kg Weta Workshop creation installed on the Tory St corner this morning.
An ambulance spokesman said they had been very quiet so far but thought that as the afternoon wore on more people would be needing help because of the heat.
He reminded everyone to stay hydrated and wear sunscreen.
The crowd is in a festive spirit, but police have added an extra 45 officers to help with crowd control and traffic safety.
Roads around Courtenay Place have been closed off, creating traffic snarl-ups around Oriental Parade this morning.
The stars of the film and other celebrities are set to walk the red carpet from 4.30pm, starting with Sir Peter.
About 6.30pm Sir Peter, Prime Minister John Key and Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown will make speeches.
The screening of the first in the Hobbit trilogy will start from 7pm.
One group of students, waiting since 7.30 this morning, came prepared for the wait.
The group were busy playing cards and trying to avoid the heat as they waited to meet the stars of the film.
Kerry Salter, 19, said she was also at the Lord of the Rings premiere, but since she was 10 at the time, thought this experience would be very different.
She said the group was waiting because they were huge fans, rather than just wanting to spot some stars.
Chris Hallett flew over from the Gold Coast to be at today's premiere and had been staking out his spot near the red carpet since 6am.
He was also here a decade ago for the world premiere of the final film in the Lord of the Rings trilogy.
"If it's anything like 10 years ago it will be off the chart.''
Mr Hallett said he had been a huge fan of The Hobbit since his teacher read it to his class in grade six and was keen to see Martin Freeman, who plays Bilbo Baggins, walk down the carpet.
Meg Taylor-Smith and her group of friends had staked out the very start of the red carpet, hoping to catch the stars when they were still fresh.
The 17-year-old, who had been waiting for this day for two years with her friends, was disappointed when she realised Sir Ian McKellen would not be attending the premiere today.
But she had not come prepared for the heat, and said it was starting to take its toll after sitting in the sun for at least two hours.
3NEWS COVERAGE 'COULD BE THE BEST YET'
The eyes of the world will be on Wellington this Wednesday, and 3 News is taking viewers to the glitz, glamour and hometown pride that will mark the world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, with live coverage of the red carpet celebrations, from 4pm on TV3.
TV3’s extended coverage of the premiere will begin at 4pm, with a 3 News special hosted by Carolyn Robinson, with Samantha Hayes and John Campbell live on the red carpet from 4pm as the cast and crew begin to arrive. David Farrier will be among the crowds gathering on Lambton Quay.
From 6pm to 7.30pm, John Campbell joins Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts for an extended 3 News special. Hilary and Mike will present the news of the day live from Wellington, including sport, business and weather, crossing to The Hobbit celebrations as red carpet arrivals continue.
Throughout the 4pm-7.30pm red carpet coverage, 3 News will take a comprehensive look back at the at times controversial, at times inspirational journey from J.R.R.Tolkien’’s book to Sir Peter Jackson’s film.
TV3’s coverage will include interviews with all the key players (the cast, Jackson, Sir Richard Taylor and more), and a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the movie, including an insider’s guide to the key filming locations and Weta Workshop’s latest marvels.
Viewers will meet the world’s biggest Hobbit fans, including some from right here in New Zealand, and get a sneak peak of what to look forward to from the film itself.
LATEST FROM 3NEWS: The Breaking News Special could be extended to 8pm.
The special broadcast will be live-streamed at 3News.co.nz/Hobbit and the 3 News iPhone and iPad apps will be continuously updated with the latest news. Viewers can share their thoughts at facebook.com/3News or on twitter using the hashtag #HobbitNZ – their messages may end up on air as part of the TV3 broadcast.
4pm-6pm: Carolyn Robinson hosts a 3 News special live from Wellington, with Samantha Hayes and John Campbell reporting on the red carpet.
6pm-7.30pm: Mike McRoberts, Hilary Barry and John Campbell are live in Wellington for an extended edition of 3 News.
ONE NEWS COVERAGE 'STARTS LATE' ENDS EARLY
One News has announced their live coverage starts at 4.30 and includes New Zealands News, Sport and Weather, then at 5pm they will go on with a special coverage till 6pm.
At 6pm One News will start with their coverage on The Hobbit and will go live to Wellington, following that they will keep New Zealand updated threw out the news show, then at 7pm Campbell Live is in Wellington and continues with coverage on The Hobbit. '
3NEWS has said their coverage could be extended to 8pm to out do TV1
3NEWS has not confirmed their coverage will be extended although