Media and marketingThe Big PictureTaxpayers have paid $500m-plus to subsidise big-budget movie makers. Is it money well spent, asks Karyn Scherer.02 Dec 04:30 PM
OpinionJohn Drinnan<i>Media</i>: Current affairs gone bad (again)TVNZ is considering five formal complaints against Paul Holmes covering the <i>Hobbit</i> dispute on TV One show <i>Q&A</i> on Labour weekend.04 Nov 04:30 PM
New ZealandKey defends <i>Hobbit</i> tax dealJohn Key says his deal to keep <i>The Hobbit</i> in NZ was far less than what Labour paid for LOTR, but Labour says the PM isn't telling the full story.29 Oct 03:36 AM
New ZealandSparks fly in '<i>Hobbit</i> law' debateThe law change that was part of the deal to clinch The Hobbit for New Zealand was still being heatedly debated when Parliament adjourned last night. 28 Oct 04:30 PM
New Zealand<i>Hobbit</i> bill passes first readingParliament was tonight working its way through a labour law change the Government says is essential to ensure The Hobbit movies are made in New Zealand, but was facing stiff opposition from Labour.28 Oct 05:56 AM
EmploymentFans enthusiastic about <i>Hobbit</i> dealThe announcement <i>The Hobbit</i> will be shot in New Zealand has been greeted enthusiastically by <i>Lord of the Rings</i> fans all over the world.27 Oct 10:24 PM
EmploymentCTU: <i>Hobbit</i> labour law changes 'opportunistic'A union leader has berated the Govt for selling the "fundamental rights" of workers to convince Warner Bros to keep <i>The Hobbit</i> in NZ.27 Oct 07:48 PM
EmploymentRelief all round that <i>Hobbit</i> will stayTwo industry heavyweights on opposing sides of <i>The Hobbit</i> row have welcomed confirmation the movies will be shot in NZ.27 Oct 04:30 PM
Opinion<i>John Armstrong</i>: Mega-money yells, and NZ rolls overWhat kind of a country sells its democratic soul for 30 pieces of silver? The answer is a small one. And one where the economy shows little sign of recovery in the short term.27 Oct 04:30 PM
EmploymentGovt's <i>Hobbit</i> pact: One deal to rule them allUp to $34m in tax breaks and help with marketing costs and a change to labour laws are the price of keeping <i>The Hobbit</i> in NZ.27 Oct 04:30 PM
Employment<i>Hobbit</i> to stay in NZFilming of <i>The Hobbit</i> will stay in New Zealand after an agreement was reached between the Government and studio executives at a crisis meeting today.27 Oct 06:38 AM
EmploymentKey to make <i>Hobbit</i> announcementPrime Minister John Key will be holding a press conference this evening to discuss the future of <i>The Hobbit</i>.27 Oct 05:45 AM
EmploymentPM: I'm not going to write cheques NZ can't affordThe Govt is continuing to negotiate with Warner Brothers on <i>The Hobbit</i> films but does not have an open chequebook.26 Oct 10:45 PM
EmploymentJackson: <i>Hobbit</i> union 'had gun to our head'Sir Peter Jackson has produced a letter which he says counters claims by NZ Actors' Equity that they sought a meeting with the producer prior to blacklisting <i>The Hobbit</i>.26 Oct 09:48 PM
EmploymentUnion warns against <i>Hobbit</i> law changeA union leader is concerned a precedent could be set which would challenge New Zealand's sovereignty if the Government changes labour laws to entice Warner Brothers to film <i>The Hobbit</i> in the country.26 Oct 08:18 PM
Employment<i>Hobbit</i> needs new law - expertOnly a new law will give Warner Bros the guarantee it wants on labour laws to keep <i>The Hobbit</i> in NZ, an employment law expert says.26 Oct 04:30 PM
EmploymentNo decision yet in <i>Hobbit</i> talks - KeyJohn Key has emerged from crisis talks with Warner Brothers executives over the filming of <i>The Hobbit</i>, saying there is still no decision on where filming will take place.26 Oct 06:30 AM
EmploymentNo <i>Hobbit</i> 'bidding war' - PMJohn Key says he has made it clear to Warner Bros that the Govt cannot go to extreme lengths to keep <i>The Hobbit</i> films in NZ.25 Oct 10:12 PM
EmploymentUnion guarantees no <i>Hobbit</i> industrial actionThe union behind an actors' boycott of <i>The Hobbit</i> has given an unconditional guarantee that it will not take any more industrial action against the film production.25 Oct 08:14 PM
New ZealandPM: 50-50 chance of <i>Hobbit</i> staying in NZPrime Minister John Key, who will meet high-powered executives from Warner Brothers in Wellington in the next two days, thinks there is a "50-50" chance of <i>The Hobbit</i> being filmed in New Zealand.25 Oct 06:09 AM
New ZealandThousands rally in support of <i>Hobbit</i>Sir Peter Jackson has taken a shot at an Australian union for intervening in the NZ film industry and unsettling plans to film <i>The Hobbit</i> in this country.25 Oct 02:34 AM
New ZealandTV producer: Unions fed frontwomen to mobThe head of the company that produces <i>Outrageous Fortune</i> believes the fallout over <i>The Hobbit</i> has made actors Robyn Malcolm and Jennifer Ward-Lealand "damaged goods".24 Oct 04:30 PM
OpinionFran O'Sullivan<i>Fran O'Sullivan:</i> Activist stunt made at Kiwis' expenseRobyn Malcolm taking on the PM over mining is one thing, but wrecking the livelihoods of NZ film workers is "just plain stupid", writes Fran O'Sullivan.22 Oct 04:30 PM
Employment'This is our livelihood' - Middle Earth's real-life battleA video clip has highlighted the anger and high stakes involved in the row over <i>The Hobbit.</i>22 Oct 04:30 PM
New ZealandEmails undermine studio's claims about <i>Hobbit</i> strikesWarner Bros and actors' unions were ready to bury the hatchet at the beginning of this week, a series of emails shows.22 Oct 04:58 AM
New Zealand<i>Hobbit</i> dispute sparks RWC fearsBosses are calling for a guarantee the industrial disputes threatening to derail <i>The Hobbit</i> won't be repeated in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.22 Oct 01:30 AM
OpinionJohn Drinnan<i>Media</i>: Jackson's bitter truths win media warSir Peter Jackson and his business interests seem to have won the media battle over <i>The Hobbit</i>.21 Oct 04:30 PM
EmploymentActors' Equity <Hobbit> meeting in Auckland cancelledAn Actors' Equity meeting to be held in Auckland tonight has been canned over fears technicians and other workers in the film would picket.21 Oct 03:12 AM
