Pioneer writes: Here’s a link to the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, interviewing Peter Jackson on Radio Live yesterday. New Zealand politics is really exciting!!! More..

Dozens of small-statured folk are ready to dance their way onto the Shire next month, but even Matamata accommodation providers are in the dark as to exactly when the big influx of little extras will hit the region.

Publicist for 3 Foot 7 Ceris Price said 90 people were selected late last year from the 1200-odd who applied to be Matamata-based hobbit extras in The Hobbit, but because people turned up “from all over” for the auditions, she did not know how many were from Waikato. But like everyone else involved in the making of Peter Jackson’s latest film, if there was hobbits grooming their toe-hairs in the Waikato, they were doing it with their lips firmly sealed. Ian Brodie, media and communications manager for Hobbiton Movie Set and Farm Tours, said confidentiality contracts meant anyone involved in The Hobbit in any capacity was bound to silence. More..

Related: Take a look at our exclusive collection of Hobbiton set photos, going all the way back to 1999! [TORN Scrapbook]

Two stars from the “Lord of the Rings” films squared off at the mic last night, and then in the boxing ring. Fantastic Fest continued Saturday night with the “Fantastic Debates,” traditional debates followed by boxing matches. Former hobbits Elijah Wood and Dominic Monaghan debated about the online video game “World of Warcraft.” More..