Travellers arriving in New Zealand’s capital have been greeted by two majestic eagle sculptures suspended from the ceiling at Wellington Airport for more than ten years. Inspired by The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the giant birds are set to be removed on Friday, May 9, to make way for a new, yet-to-be-revealed installation.
Picture/BuzzFeed News
The eagles—iconic messengers in J.R.R. Tolkien’s literary universe and later featured in Sir Peter Jackson’s film adaptations—have become a popular attraction for fans of the fantasy saga. Their presence, along with the dramatic landscapes seen in the films, has helped cement New Zealand’s reputation as a must-visit destination for movie lovers.
“It’s not unusual to see airborne departures from Wellington Airport, but in this case, it will be emotional for us,” said Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke in a statement to BBC News.
Weighing in at 1.2 tonnes each and boasting a wingspan of 15 metres, the sculptures are engineering marvels. One of them features the wizard Gandalf riding on its back. Constructed from polystyrene with a steel frame, the eagles are detailed with hundreds of feathers, the largest of which stretches 2.4 metres long.
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Although their future remains uncertain, the eagles will be carefully placed into storage. Meanwhile, fans can still enjoy a nod to Middle-earth with The Hobbit’s Smaug the dragon, who will remain on display near the check-in counters.
Unveiled in 2013 during the promotional period for The Hobbit film trilogy, the eagles were crafted by Wētā Workshop—the same Wellington-based team behind the visual magic of Jackson’s fantasy films.
“We’re working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique, locally themed replacement to take their place,” Clarke added. “We’ll unveil what’s next later this year, so keep watching the skies.”
In a reminder of their storied history, one of the eagles once fell during a 2014 earthquake. Fortunately, no one was injured.
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