NZ gets Hobbit fever over world premiere of film

The countdown has begun. In just over 50 days, Wellington, New Zealand, will again be in the spotlight when it hosts the November world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The city will then showcase an artisan festival selling all manner of paraphernalia about the small folk.

To celebrate Wellington's role as host of this much- anticipated world premiere, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced on Monday that during the week of the opening, the capital will be renamed the "Middle of Middle Earth".