The night Peter Jackson saved Paris Hilton

Peter Jackson not only directs Oscar-winning movies. When spoilt American hotel heiress Paris Hilton accidentally falls into a Hollywood swimming pool, it is Jackson to the rescue. Or so the story goes ...

Jackson's brief encounter with Hilton was one of several anecdotes that had 3000 people laughing at a special celebration in Wellington yesterday to mark The Return of the King's 11 Oscars.

The director was explaining what happened at a Hollywood party before the Oscars, hosted by Bob Shaye, co-chairman of The Lord of the Rings backer New Line Cinema.

Jackson was standing next to some decorative pools covered in flowers, discussing how it would be so easy for someone to accidentally step into them.

"I heard an incredible splash behind me and I turned around and there's a blonde woman clambering out. I didn't know who she was and I said, 'At least you've got clean shoes now' - which I thought was a positive thing to say, since she was clearly very embarrassed.

"Then other people came up to me and said it was Paris Hilton ... Journalists came around and they were studying the pool. They started to say to me, 'Is it true that Paris Hilton fell into the pool and you dragged her out?' Suddenly I'd become the hero of the story."

But to the cheering, clapping crowd, it was Jackson and his crew who were the heroes at the Wellington City Council-organised celebration at the Events Centre. He was accompanied by 15 of the Oscar winners, including Richard Taylor, Ngila Dickson, Philippa Boyens and Jamie Selkirk.

Jackson said that after the Oscar ceremony and some official appearances he and about 50 others partied into the small hours in his room at the plush Four Seasons Hotel.

A call was made to room service for champagne once he realised how many people had turned up.

"They said, 'No, it's against Californian law to sell alcohol after two o'clock in the morning'. Most of the people were staying at the Four Seasons, so they all rushed to the mini-bars in their rooms and pulled out any alcohol they could find."

After yesterday's reception the public were invited to get a closer look at the array of Academy Awards lined up on a table. Within moments the shriek "I've touched an Oscar!" rippled the air.

- NZPA