this post was submitted on 05 May 2025
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Wellington Airport's giant, Hobbit-themed eagles to be replaced (www.rnz.co.nz)
submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) by Dave@lemmy.nz to c/newzealand@lemmy.nz
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Wellington Airport is about to have its wings clipped.

Its two giant eagle sculptures - each of which weighs more than a tonne - are to be packed away, and what will replace them is being kept under wraps.

"It's not unusual to see airborne departures from Wellington Airport, but in this case, it will be emotional for us," Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said.

"They have been a huge success and travellers from around the world have loved admiring them. After 12 years it's the right time for them to fly the nest."

The sculptures, made by Wētā Workshop, were installed in 2013 as a tie-in with Peter Jackson's The Hobbit movie trilogy.

"We're working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique, locally themed replacement to take their place," Clarke said.

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[–] flambonkscious@sh.itjust.works 12 points 4 days ago (17 children)

I kinda wonder if the airport has way too much money (but maybe this is more of a tax writeoff for wēta?)

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 6 points 4 days ago (16 children)

My assumption is the original one done for a Hobbit promo was probably done at a big discount since it's basically advertising.

Not sure about this one. Tax writeoffs don't let you deduct any more than actual expenses, so you unlikely they gain financially from tax reasons. Might be the replacements are more overt about advertising for Wētā workshops, or are smaller. Or perhaps Wētā are struggling for work at the moment and have done a deal to keep staff busy.

I presume council spending is public or gets made public at some point?

[–] haydng@lemmy.nz 4 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

The airport is not council funded and is only minority-owned by the council, so we won't find out any commercials that way

[–] Dave@lemmy.nz 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

Hmm maybe. I was thinking maybe the council might see this as a tourism draw, and have some tourism boosting money they could put into it.

Honestly I'd love to know what it costs to get a bit Gwaihir with a Gandalf on its back.

It would easily be worth hundreds of thousands as part of a tourism push, but I guess it would cost millions. But really I have no idea, it might be less costly than I'm assuming (or perhaps the replacement ones will be a lot cheaper, since they don't have a Hobbit movie to help finance it).

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