This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz7949plre0o

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
New Zealand airport to remove Hobbit-themed eagle sculptures New Zealand airport to remove Hobbit-themed eagle sculptures
(33 minutes later)
The giant birds will be unfastened from the airport ceiling to make way for a new mystery exhibitThe giant birds will be unfastened from the airport ceiling to make way for a new mystery exhibit
For more than a decade, a pair of Hobbit-inspired eagle sculptures have cast a watchful eye over visitors at New Zealand's Wellington Airport.For more than a decade, a pair of Hobbit-inspired eagle sculptures have cast a watchful eye over visitors at New Zealand's Wellington Airport.
But the giant birds will be unfastened from the ceiling on Friday to make way for a new mystery exhibit, airport authorities said.But the giant birds will be unfastened from the ceiling on Friday to make way for a new mystery exhibit, airport authorities said.
The eagles appear as messengers in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, which were adapted to film by New Zealand's Sir Peter Jackson.The eagles appear as messengers in JRR Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, which were adapted to film by New Zealand's Sir Peter Jackson.
The spectacular New Zealand landscapes featured in Mr Jackson's films are a consistent draw for tourists, who are greeted at the airport by the eagle sculptures.The spectacular New Zealand landscapes featured in Mr Jackson's films are a consistent draw for tourists, who are greeted at the airport by the eagle sculptures.
"It's not unusual to see airborne departures from Wellington Airport, but in this case, it will be emotional for us," Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said in a statement."It's not unusual to see airborne departures from Wellington Airport, but in this case, it will be emotional for us," Wellington Airport chief executive Matt Clarke said in a statement.
The giant eagles will be placed in storage and there have not been long-term plans for them.The giant eagles will be placed in storage and there have not been long-term plans for them.
Each eagle weighs 1.2 tonnes (1,200kg) with a wingspan of 15m (49ft). Riding on the back of one of the birds is a sculpture of the wizard, Gandalf.Each eagle weighs 1.2 tonnes (1,200kg) with a wingspan of 15m (49ft). Riding on the back of one of the birds is a sculpture of the wizard, Gandalf.
Made of polystyrene and with an internal steel skeleton, each eagle has hundreds of feathers, the longest one measuring 2.4m (8ft).Made of polystyrene and with an internal steel skeleton, each eagle has hundreds of feathers, the longest one measuring 2.4m (8ft).
While the iconic eagles will soon be gone, not all is lost for fans of the franchise: Smaug the Magnificent, the dragon in The Hobbit, will continue to be displayed at the check-in area.While the iconic eagles will soon be gone, not all is lost for fans of the franchise: Smaug the Magnificent, the dragon in The Hobbit, will continue to be displayed at the check-in area.
The sculptures were installed in 2013 amid the release of The Hobbit trilogyThe sculptures were installed in 2013 amid the release of The Hobbit trilogy
The eagles were unveiled in 2013, around the time of the release of The Hobbit trilogy. The giant sculptures were produced by Wētā Workshop, the New Zealand-based company that made costumes and props for The Lord of the Rings franchise.The eagles were unveiled in 2013, around the time of the release of The Hobbit trilogy. The giant sculptures were produced by Wētā Workshop, the New Zealand-based company that made costumes and props for The Lord of the Rings franchise.
"We're working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique, locally themed replacement to take their place," Mr Clarke said. "We'll unveil what's next later this year so keep watching the skies.""We're working with Wētā Workshop on some exciting plans for a unique, locally themed replacement to take their place," Mr Clarke said. "We'll unveil what's next later this year so keep watching the skies."
In 2014, one of the eagles came crashing down during an earthquake. No one was injured in the from that accident. In 2014, one of the eagles came crashing down during an earthquake. No one was injured from that accident.