Hobbiton is ready and waiting for its furry-footed inhabitants, but problems continue to delay the start date of filming of The Hobbit in Matamata.
The Hobbiton movie set and farm tours on the Alexander farm near Matamata will be closed for filming from February 14 to March 20, but locals remain tight-lipped or in the dark about when filming will actually begin.
The latest delay has occurred because director Sir Peter Jackson had surgery in Wellington Hospital for a perforated stomach ulcer on January 26.
He was yesterday discharged from hospital to complete his recovery at home.
But The Hobbit publicist Melissa Booth said in a statement that any delays to filming were expected to be minimal.
Matamata Robert Harris cafe owner Nick Kirsopp said he was yet to have anyone in ordering Hobbit-sized coffees, but everyone was talking about when filming would begin.
"There was talk about the 14th of February," Mr Kirsopp said.
But he was unsure if that was still the case due to Sir Peter's illness.
"I'm not sure what the official word is now."
He said people who had been on the movie set tour since the shire had been rebuilt were highly impressed with what they has seen.
"Comments range from it's amazing to it looks like a real village quite captivating," he said.
"They've built it using concrete and stone, not plywood and polystyrene this time," he said referring to the Lord of the Rings set on the same location.
No-one was willing to confirm where or when the Middle Earth stars would be sleeping in Matamata, but a Broadway Motel staff member said they had to "stay very quiet" and a Maple Lodge Motel staff member was equally coy.
"We have signed a confidentiality agreement like the officials do," she said.
"We're not allowed to say anything to anybody."
Other delays in the production of The Hobbit occurred last year when the original director, Guillermo del Toro, departed and then Warner Bros threatened to take the production to Europe because of union demands.
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