Spend an evening with Sir Peter Jackson

Sir Peter Jackson in the entrance to the Great War Exhibition in Wellngton. Photo / Mark Mitchell

For a cool $5000 a table, fans of Sir Peter Jackson can spend an evening with the director and hear about the inspiration behind his works.

The evening with Sir Peter and Prime Minister John Key, hosted by John Campbell, will raise funds for further development and operation of the Great War Exhibition in Wellington.

At the event, Sir Peter will share his personal story and the inspiration behind his award-winning works, including the exhibition created to mark the centenary of the Gallipoli landings and World War I.

Sir Peter said he wanted to tell the story of World War I, as the people who were there experienced it, with minimum modern interpretation.

"For most people, the imagery of The Great War is represented by black and white photography. That's how we now imagine it - but that's not how it was seen by those who lived through it," he said.

He asked Weta Digital to restore and colourise every photographic image used in the exhibit.

"It's amazing how it makes a century of history melt away, and you suddenly see people that are no different to your own friends and workmates today," said Sir Peter.

"This is an exhibition for all New Zealanders, and I'm excited to continue expanding it to tell New Zealand's story as it happened, 100 years earlier."

The evening with Sir Peter will be held on Thursday, June 2, at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre in Auckland.

Tables and tickets for the event, which includes a three-course meal with New Zealand wine and beverages, costs $5000 for 10 guests, or $500 for individual tickets.

Reservations can be made by emailing rsvp@greatwarexhibition.nz.