He's read the book now it's film time

Colin D'Souza has read Lord of the Rings 37 times, so what better book to take along to while away 11 hours waiting for tickets to the movie to go on sale.

Mr D'Souza joined other die-hard fans Paul van der Werff, Daryl Habraken and Peter Simpson at Hoyts Wairau Park on Auckland's North Shore at 8.30 pm on Wednesday, camping on the pavement until the doors opened at 7.30 am yesterday.

Hoyts cinemas in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch were selling tickets to the first session of Lord of the Rings, showing at midnight on December 20.

About 30 people queued for tickets in Wellington, the first arriving at 4.30 am.

In Christchurch some fans showed Kiwi ingenuity by backing a ute up to the doors of their local cinema and sleeping on a mattress in the back.

Hoyts marketing manager Karen Cafe said there was a rush for tickets first thing yesterday morning and sales were steady through the day.

Tickets to other sessions will go on sale soon.