Famed filmmakers Sir Peter Jackson and Dame Fran Walsh have been quietly expanding their land empire, spending hundreds of millions of dollars on properties across Wellington and Queenstown. 

Their recent purchase of land in Wellington’s Shelly Bay has seen a long-mooted new housing development scrapped, with the couple planning to return much of the land to nature. 

As much of the country grapples with a housing crisis, some critics have questioned why Jackson and Walsh have built up $350 million in property. 

So why are he and Walsh buying up all this land? And should we be concerned about wealthy people flexing their financial muscle to grab as much land as they can?  

NZ Herald investigative reporter Matt Nippert joins Damien to discuss the details around more and more of Aotearoa becoming Jackson’s personal Middle Earth. 

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Host: Damien Ventuto
Producer: Shaun D Wilson
Executive Producer: Ethan Sills

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