Located on the very southern tip of the Northern Island of New Zealand, Wellington has become the epicenter of New Zealand creativity. I had come to New Zealand knowing that Peter Jackson had an impact on the country but I had no idea how significant of an impact he actually had. Peter Jackson started his film career by making low budget slasher films with his friends on the weekends. Eventually he was given the opportunity to take a shot at the Lord of the Rings series and fortunately, for New Zealand and the rest of the world, excelled and created a timeless film series. This film series has brought New Zealand to the forefront on an international level and has increased tourism in the country by 8%. Peter Jackson has been extremely generous with the fortune that he has made from his movies. He is known to give back to many different social projects in Wellington and along with Weta Workshop have created jobs and promoted the continuation of the Arts in New Zealand.
-Bryant
Down Under Cinema: Film Studies in Australia and New Zealand 