New Zealanders are split over whether it was worthwhile subsidising Sir Peter Jackson's Hobbit trilogy, a new survey has found.
Warner Bros was given a Government subsidy of more than $60m to make the movies here, despite some political and public opposition.
The UMR Research survey, which the company conducted of its own volition, found that 42 per cent of New Zealanders thought they got value for money from the subsidy, while 38 per cent thought they did not.
Males, older New Zealanders and those on higher incomes were more likely to see value for money in taxpayer backing for the film.
New Zealanders also tended to support Winston Peters' call for Hollywood companies to repay the subsidy if the films were successful, with 70 per cent in favour and only 19 per cent opposed.