Kiwis ecstatic

New Zealand, the South Pacific nation that native director Peter Jackson transformed into Middle Earth for his epic Lord of the Rings films, was in raptures yesterday as the trilogy’s final instalment swept a record-equalling 11 Oscars including Best Director and Best Film.

“It’s an incredibly proud day to be a New Zealander, to see Lord of the Rings sweep the field ... it was simply amazing,” gushed the country’s normally austere Prime Minister Helen Clark.

About 750 movie buffs some dressed as characters from the film, packed into a movie theatre in Wellington, Jackson’s home town, to watch on the big screen.

They stamped, shouted, cheered and wept as the awards kept rolling in, ending with two huge roars as Jackson won the Best Director award and Return of the King won Best film.