NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / New Zealand

'The group who lived' exit 24-hour Harry Potter movie marathon at Roxy Cinema in Wellington

By Melissa Nightingale
NZ Herald·
26 Mar, 2017 04:30 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Zoe Ryall, 8, dressed as a Gryffindor student for the Harry Potter movie marathon.

Zoe Ryall, 8, dressed as a Gryffindor student for the Harry Potter movie marathon.

Nearly 150 people crammed into the theatre at Roxy Cinema in Wellington this weekend for a 24-hour Harry Potter movie marathon - and even the Dark Lord himself made an appearance.

In fact, You Know Who even took home the prize for best costume.

Twelve-year-old Hugo Brown was certainly dedicating himself to the character by channelling his inner murderous villain.

Voldemort was Hugo's favourite character.

"I just like him because he's evil and I like evil thoughts," said the boy at the end of the marathon.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Roxy's Erica Brooks cuts the Dobby cake with more than a little enthusiasm.
Roxy's Erica Brooks cuts the Dobby cake with more than a little enthusiasm.

Out of all the movies played during the marathon, which started at 1.30pm on Saturday and finished the same time on Sunday, Hugo's favourite was the sixth movie - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

"It's my favourite movie. A lot of things happen in that movie. A lot of evil things."

Mother Ana Brown was bewildered at her son's enthusiasm.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I'm a little bit, like, what's with the evil thoughts? Didn't realise that one," she said.

Hugo won a wand for the best costume competition, while another competitor won a Triwizard Cup made by Weta Workshop in a quiz.

Another dressed-up moviegoer was Gryffindor student Zoe Ryall, 8, who slept through only one of the films over the 24-hour period.

"She was kind of high on sugar for the rest of it," said mum Jemma Kingi.

A wand stall was set up in the cinema lobby for movie goers to buy from in the breaks.
A wand stall was set up in the cinema lobby for movie goers to buy from in the breaks.

As Potter fans spilled out of the cinema carrying pillows and blankets, dressed in pyjamas or wizard costumes, one man could be heard saying they were "the group who lived through the marathon".

One such survivor was 22-year-old Courtenay Trass, who said she "wasn't quite sure" what she'd signed up for.

"It hit when we started watching the first movie, it was like 'holy God, we've got another seven of these to go.' You get half way through and go 'I can do this, I can get through, I'm amazing,' at like three in the morning."

Her friend Maddie Bowles donned a Slytherin uniform for the event, while Trass dressed as a "Hogwarts student ready for bed" in her pyjamas.

"Nobody's judging, especially not at a 24-hour Harry Potter movie marathon."

View this post on Instagram

We have a couple of extremely convincing Minerva McGonagall's in the house! Look at that disapproving stare! #mcgonagall #harrypotter #moviemarathon #cosplay #roxyevents #roxycinemanz

A post shared by The Roxy Cinema (@roxycinemanz) on Mar 24, 2017 at 7:47pm PDT

The pair have agreed to have a Harry Potter marathon every two years, though they may do it in the comfort of their own homes next time so they can still shower in between movies.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

They said their favourite part of the marathon was the excitement among other fans, and being able to make friends with total strangers over a shared interest in a cinema bathroom in the early hours of the morning.

A Dobby cake and a candy bar were set up for people as they left the final film.
A Dobby cake and a candy bar were set up for people as they left the final film.

Roxy head of marketing Erica Brooks said about 145 people showed up for the event, which allowed breaks for food and games in between films.

Members of the Victoria University quidditch club showed up to teach moviegoers how to play a game of quidditch, and attendees were treated with Potter-themed meals and snacks, including butterbeer and a Dobby cake made by Becs Peel from Stiletto Studio Cakes.

A wandmaker also set up a stall out in the lobby, and "skiving snackboxes" were available to the moviegoers as they left the final movie of the weekend.

"They've been wonderful," Brooks said.

View this post on Instagram

Who would have guessed Bellatrix Lestrange and Professor Trelawney would bond over a butterbeer? #harrypotter #moviemarathon #butterbeer #cosplay #roxycinemanz #roxyevents

A post shared by The Roxy Cinema (@roxycinemanz) on Mar 25, 2017 at 10:30am PDT

"I probably left at half 12 last night and got back at six this morning. They were a wee bit quiet this morning but I went in to say hi and they still gave me a big cheer."

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from New Zealand

New ZealandUpdated

Night Market incident: 21yo to defend wounding charge

08 Jul 12:05 AM
New Zealand

'Risk to the public': Police search for wanted man

07 Jul 11:57 PM
New Zealand

End of an era: Kinleith workers mark closure

07 Jul 11:46 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from New Zealand

Night Market incident: 21yo to defend wounding charge

Night Market incident: 21yo to defend wounding charge

08 Jul 12:05 AM

Tara-Paige Simon pleaded not guilty in Rotorua District Court.

'Risk to the public': Police search for wanted man

'Risk to the public': Police search for wanted man

07 Jul 11:57 PM
End of an era: Kinleith workers mark closure

End of an era: Kinleith workers mark closure

07 Jul 11:46 PM
Council reviewing court ruling on Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei dominance at Westhaven

Council reviewing court ruling on Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei dominance at Westhaven

07 Jul 11:22 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP