Hobbit fever grips New Zealand ahead of world premiere

A large model of Gandalf to advertise The Hobbit movie is on top of the Embassy Theatre in the central business district in Wellington. Hobbit fever has seized New Zealand, and the capital is dotted with giant sculptures of key characters such as Gandalf the wizard and a bug-eyed Gollum greeting visitors at the airport. Marty Melville / Agence France-Presse