Lost almost filmed in New Zealand

Producers of top-rating television series Lost short-listed New Zealand as a potential shoot location for the drama, news agency Australian Associated Press (AAP) has reported.

Following the success of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, producers considered filming the mysterious island drama in New Zealand, before finally deciding on Hawaii.

Executive Producer Bryan Burk told AAP: "There were conversations about New Zealand because Lord of the Rings had been done there and Pete Jackson had his entire world there."

Australia was also a major contender to host the production's filming, but producers made an "eleventh hour" decision to film in Hawaii.

"Purely for the topography alone, there is nothing like the Hawaiian islands," said Burk.

The programme, now in its third season, is watched by around 20 million Americans each week.

If Lost had been shot in New Zealand, it would have contributed thousands of dollars to the local economy and added to the already substantial profile of New Zealand as filming location.

- NZHERALD STAFF