Workers have begun preparing a Hobbit-themed sculpture on the roof of Wellington's Embassy Theatre, ahead of the film's premiere this month.
The installation, created by director Sir Peter Jackson's art department, will be unveiled before the world premiere of the first film of the trilogy on November 28.
An EmbassyTheatre staff member said preparation work was carried out today and installation work would take place tomorrow, depending on the weather.
Sir Peter's spokesman is giving no clues about exactly what will peer over the red carpet.
Previous installations to mark Sir Peter's Lord of the Rings films have included a Ringwraith and the character Gollum.
Other parts of Wellington have already been decked out with Hobbit creations.
Wellington Airport has a 13 metre-long sculpture of Gollum suspended from its ceiling, while the fifth floor of the New Zealand Post building has silhouettes of Bilbo Baggins and dwarfs.
Thousands are expected to gather alongside the 500 metres of red carpet to be laid out along Wellington's Courtenay Place for the premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
