As he became the second New Zealander with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Sir Peter Jackson paid tribute to his children for putting up with "a dad who lives in a crazy, strange world".

The 53-year-old Wellingtonian received the famous strip's 2538th star (the second Kiwi after Russell Crowe) in a ceremony attended by celebrities, fans, partner Fran Walsh and children Billy and Katie.

"I'm so proud of him," Katie told the Herald.

"It's inspirational and such a huge honour for him. It feels surreal."

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Replay a livestream of the ceremony here:

Jackson added: "Families ultimately see the hard times. They see the stress and the pressure and they're always there to support me, so it's special to have them here today.

"It's hard to describe my feelings. Being a 7-year-old kid in Pukerua Bay with a Super 8 camera and having mum and dad bring me here when I was 12 years old ... I walked along this street and never, ever dreamed in a million years that I would have a
star here."

Gallery: Peter Jackson receives Hollywood star

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"It's hard to say that a country has supported you, but in this case it really is true - from the New Zealand Government down to all the film crews and everyone else. An entire country has helped me get here, of which I'm hugely grateful."

Actors Orlando Bloom, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly and Elijah Wood witnessed the unveiling, alongside a crowd of 1000.

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce declared December 8 "Peter Jackson Day in Hollywood" before actor Andy Serkis paid tribute to "one of the greatest film-makers on the planet".

"You're a genuine, bona fide, no bullshit visionary. Your extraordinary leadership, forensic thinking, attention to detail, pioneering, fearless risk-taking and work ethic are matched only by your sense of mischief and anarchy," said the man who played Gollum.

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Despite Jackson's many awards and accolades, collaborator Philippa Boyens said the star was a distinctive honour for the film-maker.

"For him, this is the Walk of Film because so many of his heroes are here, so it's special for him and special for all of us.

"I actually started crying when he looked our way.

"I was fine until that moment, then I looked at him and knew that even though he's dauntless and very brave, he was very moved today."

The Lord of the Rings

trilogy earned 30 Oscar nominations, winning 17, including Best Picture for the final chapter.

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The final film of The Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, will be released in New Zealand on December 11.