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 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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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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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I've absolutely seen companies take on work at break even, or even at a loss, just to keep staff employed and the business ticking over through a quiet patch.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Can you imagine how hard it must be to hire someone with the skills those Wētā Workshop folk have? I expect there's a really good reason to tide over a downturn with some work to keep the team busy if you have hope over the horizon.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Oh, absolutely. There would be people there with decades of experience in a very niche field, and if you let them go, you'll likely never get them back.