Wētā Workshop

Peter Jackson and Wētā Workshop

Sir Peter Jackson is a co-founder and major shareholder of Wētā Workshop. While the company was originally established in 1987 as RT Effects by Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger, Jackson formally joined the partnership in 1993 to facilitate the production of complex physical effects, costumes, and creatures for his feature film Heavenly Creatures. This collaboration transformed the small operation into Wētā Workshop, which eventually became a cornerstone of the global filmmaking industry through its extensive work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.^[19]

Jackson served as a formal director of the company for 22 years, providing strategic oversight during its rapid expansion into miniatures, armor smithing, and high-end collectibles.

On December 31, 2015, Jackson officially resigned from the board of directors, a decision prompted by the introduction of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. This legislative shift introduced stringent personal liability for company directors regarding workplace safety, including the potential for significant fines and imprisonment for "officers" who failed to exercise due diligence. Because Jackson’s primary focus remained on film direction and digital production rather than the day-to-day industrial manufacturing operations occurring on the Workshop floor, he stepped down to mitigate personal legal risk while maintaining his financial interests.^[20][21]

As of 2026, Jackson retains approximately one-third of the company's shares. Despite his resignation from the board of the Wētā Workshop, Jackson remains the owner of Wētā FX.

Chainmail

For The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, realistic looking chainmail was made for the lead actors and for the hundreds of extras that appeared throughout the films. PVC pipe was cut into rings, assembled by hand into a semblance of armour, and then electroplated. A total of 82.9 million links were manufactured from 7 miles (11 km) of PVC pipe.^[22]

Wētā Workshop makes chainmail for film and creative industries using new techniques developed in-house. PVC injection was used for the armour in Kingdom of Heaven, giving better results than the process for The Lord of the Rings.^[23] It produces aluminium or steel chainmail for high-impact stuntwork.^[24]

Bigatures

The term bigature is Wētā Workshop's nickname for a very large miniature model. They are used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, with the largest of them measuring some 9 metres (30 ft) tall. Extensive computer graphics techniques and computer-controlled cameras were used to seamlessly mesh the bigature photography with live actors and scenes.^[25]

Bigatures used in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy included models of:

• Rivendell – Elrond's city for the Elves
• Caras Galadhon – Galadriel's city in Lothlórien
• Argonath – the gateway into Gondor, two statues of Elendil and Isildur
• Helm's Deep – the mountain fortress of the Rohirrim
• Osgiliath – the ruined City of Gondor
• Minas Tirith – the White City of Gondor
• Orthanc – Saruman's tower
• Cirith Ungol – the tower that guards the pass of Shelob
• Minas Morgul – Sauron's 'Dead City'
• Barad-dûr – Sauron's massive tower
• The Black Gate – the gate guarding the gap between the Ered Lithui and the Ephel Dúath
• Grond – the battering ram that smashed down the gates of Minas Tirith

Sideshow Weta Collectibles (2001–2005)

Sideshow Weta Collectibles operated as a joint venture between the American manufacturer Sideshow Collectibles and Wētā Workshop.

Formed in 2001 to capitalize on the release of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, the partnership combined Wētā’s authentic film-prop expertise with Sideshow’s global distribution and marketing infrastructure. The collaboration is best known for producing high-end polystone statues, busts, and prop replicas that set a new industry standard for cinematic accuracy and detail.

The formal partnership between Sideshow Collectibles and Weta Workshop concluded on July 1, 2005, allowing both entities to pursue independent creative and commercial interests. To mark the end of the collaboration, the final product released was a 1:6 scale polystone statue of director Peter Jackson. The figure depicted Jackson in his cameo role as a Corsair of Umbar from the film The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.^[39]

Wētā Workshop Collectibles (2009–present)

Wētā Workshop re-established its independent consumer products division in 2009 following the conclusion of its joint venture with Sideshow. The studio produces high-end collectibles designed and sculpted by the same artists who create props and practical effects for major film productions.

Wētā Workshop’s consumer products division includes several distinct lines of collectibles derived from its work in film and television. The Masters Collection consists of large-scale, limited-edition statues produced with an emphasis on technical detail and complex character arrangements. These mixed-media figures are often hand-painted by the same artists who work on the studio's film sets to ensure a high level of craftsmanship.

The Classic Series features 1:6 scale polystone statues from franchises such as The Lord of the Rings, Stranger Things, and Avatar. Additionally, the studio produces Mini Epics, a line of stylized vinyl figures, and Prop Replicas created using the original digital and physical assets from film production.

Wētā Workshop Experience, Wellington

Life-sized sculptures of the three Trolls - Tom, Bert, and William—from The Hobbit film trilogy, situated in front of the Wētā Workshop facility in Wellington.

The tour is located at the Wētā Workshop headquarters in Miramar, Wellington. Guided tours, which first opened to the public in 2012, provide a look into the workshop through viewing windows where visitors may observe staff at work on current productions. The experience displays authentic props, costumes, and weapons from various film franchises, including The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Avatar, and District 9. Visitors can also view "bigatures," which are large-scale miniatures used to film expansive cinematic landscapes. During the tour, guides describe the transition of a project from a concept sketch to a finished physical prop.

Photography is restricted in specific areas of the tour space due to the presence of active film productions and intellectual property requirements.

The Wētā Cave, Wellington

The Wētā Cave serves as the public entry point for the company's Wellington headquarters, functioning as a retail space, mini-museum, and cinema. Entry to the Cave is free of charge, which allows visitors to view a variety of collectibles and prop replicas without a tour ticket.

The exterior is marked by three life-sized stone trolls, which are frequently used as a landmark for photography. Inside, the mini-museum displays artifacts from various film productions, including The Chronicles of Narnia and King Kong. A 17-minute documentary detailing the company’s history and the work of founders Richard Taylor and Peter Jackson is screened regularly.

The retail area carries a range of products, from themed apparel and pins to limited-edition statues and handcrafted prop replicas. Staff are available to provide information regarding the items on display, many of which were created by the same artists who work on the film sets. The interior also features several large-scale character sculptures, such as Gollum and Lurtz, which are available for public viewing.^[42][43]

Wētā Workshop Unleashed, Auckland

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is a tourism attraction located at the SkyCity precinct in Auckland's central business district, which officially opened to the public on December 15, 2020. The experience is designed as a narrative-based journey exploring the creative process through three fictional film genres: horror, fantasy, and sci-fi. Visitors are introduced to the tour by an animatronic character before being guided through various sets styled to appear as active film productions. Unlike the Wellington studio, photography is permitted throughout this facility.

The tour includes several large-scale installations, such as a five-meter-tall robot and a fantasy castle environment. Interactive elements allow guests to operate puppets, use digital mirrors to view prosthetic effects, and enter a themed laboratory. The horror section includes a walk-through set, with an alternative route provided for those who wish to bypass that specific area. Although the featured projects are fictional, the tour demonstrates the practical effects techniques used by the company in major film productions.

The Auckland site also hosts scheduled workshops where participants can learn technical skills such as special effects makeup and miniature construction.^[44][45]

The Wētā Cave, Auckland

The Wētā Cave Auckland is the retail and reception hub for the Wētā Workshop Unleashed. Similar to the Wellington branch, it functions as a themed environment that is free for the public to enter without a tour ticket. The store is characterized by large-scale displays, including giant trolls and a sleeping dragon, which serve as focal points for photography.

The inventory includes a wide range of authentic collectibles, prop replicas, and movie memorabilia designed by the same artists who work on major film productions. The retail area specifically features a curated selection of high-end statues, art prints, apparel, and jewelry inspired by the workshop's cinematic projects.^[46]

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