Peter Jackson's kingdom grows

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There is already a castle, lake, island and railway – but Sir Peter Jackson's fairytale Wairarapa property is not complete yet.

The Oscar-winning director has non-notified consent to dam Waipoua River tributaries to create a second recreational lake at his 37ha property northeast of Masterton.

A round of consents granted by Greater Wellington regional council also includes retrospective permission for the castle, bridges and culverts.

The lake is expected to be similar in size to the existing 1ha lake. The 20m-high castle is built on an island in the lake. While work to build the lake is extensive, the council says it will have a positive long-term environmental impact.

Since they bought the property in 1998, Sir Peter and partner Fran Walsh have also built a railway that crosses bridges over the lake and have installed Lord of the Rings set pieces, including Frodo's Bag End. They transformed the house into a two-towered mansion complete with indoor pool and 100-seat cinema.

The rateable value has risen to $10 million and the pair often host celebrity guests – including Tom Cruise and Sir Ian McKellen.

Greater Wellington consents and compliance team leader Stephen Thawley said the new lake consent was processed without consultation because the lasting environmental impact was negligible.

The water take was far less than farming operations, and changes to the waterways were minor. "We're not losing any habitats in those water courses." Extensive native planting was also being done.

Retrospective consents were necessary because of the evolving nature of the plans for the estate, he said.

Wairarapa councillor Ian Buchanan said the careful environmental consideration had helped make the local community more comfortable with the development.

"There's been no controversy locally about anything – other than sheer wonderment."

Forest and Bird lower North Island field officer Aalbert Rebergen said the project would be beneficial because of the wetland environments it would create. "The value of those trickles [streams] for fish are probably going to be very minor. The net environmental value of what he's doing is actually positive."

Mr Thawley said the new lake would be landscaped in keeping with the fairytale atmosphere of the first, but would also have a practical use. "It is a recreational lake, but it is also going to be a water-storage feature."

It would allow for irrigation when the river was low.

- © Fairfax NZ News