Last-minute scramble saves Rings' premiere

After a week of chaotic turnarounds, a $2 million ratepayer contribution to Wellington's Embassy Theatre refurbishment will receive Mayor Kerry Prendergast's backing.

A statement last night said money was no longer an issue in securing Wellington the world premiere for the third Lord Of The Rings movie, The Return Of The King.

"The question is not whether we will carry out the work required [on the Embassy], the question is how much work is required," Ms Prendergast said. "Once that is established, we will do it."

The shambles centres on how much work is required to guarantee the December premiere. What was once a full earthquake upgrade now appears to be a cosmetic make-over.

The council will consider the matter for a third time tomorrow, a week after revoking a March 28 decision to supply $7 million in underwriting.

That change of heart came after Ms Prendergast met the film's owners, New Line Cinema, in Los Angeles, and reported that no refurbishment requirements had been laid down to guarantee the premiere.

Scarcely a day later, New Line executive producer Mark Ordesky warned the premiere would go to Los Angeles if work wasn't done.

Yesterday, Ms Prendergast said a $2 million "net cost" to the council could be considered reasonable, "if, for example, they [the Embassy Theatre Trust] were to raise $2 million - it could be a dollar for dollar arrangement".

The trust was yesterday working on revised costings for scaled-down refurbishments, but admitted most of the money would have to come from the public sector.

- NZPA

Herald Feature: Lord of the Rings