With his lanky blond locks, black stovepipe jeans and black zipper jacket, ex-pat director Andrew Adamson was destined to shoot movies in West Auckland.
Yesterday the director of the Shrek films brought about 200 crew from his big-budget The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to Glen Eden to be greeted by a warrior, a mayor and a powhiri.
The powhiri, held at the Hoani Waititi Marae, received a slice of the huge international contingent behind the film. In keeping with the wintry vibe of the classic CS Lewis tale, it was accompanied by a chilling breeze and intermittent rain.
Despite the chill, Adamson said the warmth of the welcome equalled only that offered by his family at Auckland International Airport. “And I am so proud and happy to bring some the wonderful, creative people I have met in the United States back with me to New Zealand. It is easy to see that this is a magical land, filled with magical people.”
The former Blockhouse Bay resident said New Zealand had become an ideal location for filming, where he could draw on an industry that had spent six years during the The Lord of the Rings series learning how to meet Hollywood expectations.
On the downside, filming in New Zealand meant The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe was competing with Peter Jackson’s King Kong remake for crew members. “A lot of those guys have come through the Battle of Britain with Peter Jackson so obviously they have their own loyalties,” said Adamson. But he estimated his crew would still be up to 90 per cent New Zealanders.