Hobbit quotes - what they're saying

PM John Key. Photo / Greg Bowker

What some of the key players are saying about the future of the Hobbit films in New Zealand:

* "If it comes to a bidding war, then New Zealand's out, because I don't think that's the right way to run this" - Prime Minister John Key.

* "They (Warner Bros) need surety about their capacity to complete this film in good time, and while the CTU and others are saying 'Well look, we've given them some guarantee', the fact is the trust has been well and truly broken" - Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee.

* "I think the handling of the whole issue has been poor from the beginning and I don't want to attribute blame, but I think we've got to a point now where we just want it resolved" - Labour deputy leader Annette King.

* "Turning us into another state of Australia under the sway of destructive organisation carries the very real risk of destroying the great big heart that beats inside our films" - Sir Peter Jackson on the actions of the Australian Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) union.

* "Performers in New Zealand have made a decision about how they wish to be represented, and they've chosen to be represented by us. They make the decisions about how their industrial interests are advanced, not me. I work to their instructions" - MEAA assistant federal secretary Simon Whipp.

* "The Australian movie industry is in tatters. Warner Brothers do not want to make movies in Australia because of the actions of Simon Whipp. So if we want the same thing to happen in New Zealand, we should go ahead and let them run our industrial relations policy in this country. I for one don't intend to let them do that" - Prime Minister John Key.

* "I'm sure the level of the dollar is what Warner Bros will tell the Prime Minister is one of the factors he should consider in the financial arrangements for the film industry" - Labour MP Trevor Mallard.

* "This is about a long-term relationship with Warner Brothers, and continuing that long-term relationship. It's not just about what the exchange rate is today" - Prime Minister John Key.

- NZPA