Waikato film industry grows beyond Hobbiton as region attracts major productions

Multimedia journalist·Waikato Herald·27 Aug, 2026 06:00 PM6 mins to read‌Waikato is trying to turn The Lord of the Rings movie magic into something bigger. Pictured is Matt Hicks, a director and producer from Cambridge.Twenty-five years ago, a little-known farm outside Matamata became Middle-earth.Now Waikato is trying to turn that movie magic into something bigger.Hobbiton remains the region’s most famous connection to Hollywood, but beyond the green hills and round doors, a different screen industry has been quietly taking shape. Film-makers