Taxpayers have paid $500m-plus to subsidise big-budget movie makers. Is it money well spent, asks Karyn Scherer.

TVNZ is considering five formal complaints against Paul Holmes covering the Hobbit dispute on TV One show Q&A on Labour weekend.

John Key says his deal to keep The Hobbit in NZ was far less than what Labour paid for LOTR, but Labour says the PM isn't telling the full story.

The 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.

Parliament 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.

The announcement The Hobbit will be shot in New Zealand has been greeted enthusiastically by Lord of the Rings fans all over the world.

Up to $34m in tax breaks and help with marketing costs and a change to labour laws are the price of keeping The Hobbit in NZ.

What 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.

Filming of The Hobbit will stay in New Zealand after an agreement was reached between the Government and studio executives at a crisis meeting today.

Prime Minister John Key will be holding a press conference this evening to discuss the future of The Hobbit.

The Govt is continuing to negotiate with Warner Brothers on The Hobbit films but does not have an open chequebook.

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 The Hobbit.

A 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 The Hobbit in the country.

Only a new law will give Warner Bros the guarantee it wants on labour laws to keep The Hobbit in NZ, an employment law expert says.

John Key has emerged from crisis talks with Warner Brothers executives over the filming of The Hobbit, saying there is still no decision on where filming will take place.

Prime 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 The Hobbit being filmed in New Zealand.

Sir Peter Jackson has taken a shot at an Australian union for intervening in the NZ film industry and unsettling plans to film The Hobbit in this country.

The head of the company that produces Outrageous Fortune believes the fallout over The Hobbit has made actors Robyn Malcolm and Jennifer Ward-Lealand "damaged goods".

A video clip has highlighted the anger and high stakes involved in the row over The Hobbit.

Robyn 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.

Warner Bros and actors' unions were ready to bury the hatchet at the beginning of this week, a series of emails shows.

Bosses are calling for a guarantee the industrial disputes threatening to derail The Hobbit won't be repeated in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Sir Peter Jackson and his business interests seem to have won the media battle over The Hobbit.

An Actors' Equity meeting to be held in Auckland tonight has been canned over fears technicians and other workers in the film would picket.