Conditions far from lordly on 'Rings' set

The Lord of the Rings film crew has left South Canterbury, leaving behind months of hype and controversy over rates of pay for New Zealand extras.

Demolition of the Edoras set, on Mt Sunday, southwest of Mt Somers, began this week.

The filming there ended amid claims that extras working on the $550 million production are being exploited with substandard wages and conditions.

Hollywood-based actor, producer and film consultant Anna Wilding, who is visiting family in Christchurch, said New Zealanders hired to supply and ride horses in the epic were being treated like "slave labour." The riders, who received daily rates of $200 and meals, would be paid at least $500 plus allowances if the film were being made in America.

"They certainly wouldn't be sleeping in tents or horse floats in the cold and rain in Twizel as they are now. That's appalling and someone has to stand up and say so."



The riders were not paid float fees or any allowance for working away from home as they would if they were working in the US. They should also be housed in a reasonable standard of accommodation.

She said she believed the film company was paying many riders as extras when under US conditions they would be classed as stunt people and get up to $1500 a day.

Unit publicist Claire Raskind said the riders were only too happy to be on the set. They were provided with three meals a day, showers, toilets and movies at night.

She said the production's horse coordinator, Steve Old, believed people would pay to have the same experience and conditions.

"It's a holiday on horseback for them."

Ms Raskind said the company believed its pay rates were comparable and competitive in the New Zealand context.

The riders had all known what they would be paid and auditions had been well attended.

- NZPA