Hobbit-themed eagle sculptures to be removed from New Zealand airport

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May 6, 2025
3 min read

Hobbit-themed eagle sculptures to be removed from New Zealand airport

A pair of Hobbit-themed eagle sculptures that have stood at Wellington Airport in New Zealand are set to be removed. In their place will be a new mystery exhibit, airport authorities revealed.

The eagles are depicted as messengers in Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, both of which has been adapted to a trilogy of movies by New Zealand director Sir Peter Jackson. The landscape of New Zealand featured in the movie, making the country a draw for Tolkien fans around the world.

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The hobbit-themed eagle sculptures are among the first things visitors see when landing at Wellington Airport.

“It’s not unusual to see airborne departures from Wellington Airport, but in this case, it will be emotional for us,” the airport’s chief executive, Matt Clarke, said in a statement.

The sculptures will be put into storage. There are currently no long-term plans for what to do with them in the future. Each bird weighs 1.2 tonnes and has a wingspan of 15m. One of the eagles has a sculpture of Gandalf riding on it, similar to how the wizard, played by Ian McKellan, does in the movies.

“We’re working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique, locally themed replacement to take their place,” Clarke said. “We’ll unveil what’s next later this year so keep watching the skies.”

Image: Steve Upton

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