Brownlee denies lying about Hobbit
Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee has denied accusations he misled Parliament when filmmakers were considering moving The Hobbit film production overseas.
Economic Development Minister Gerry Brownlee has denied accusations he misled Parliament when filmmakers were considering moving The Hobbit film production overseas.
In September, Australian-based union Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance issued a no-work order on the two films in an attempt to get producers to enter contract negotiations.
Warner Bros decided to keep production in New Zealand in October after changes were made to employment laws and the film was given additional tax breaks.
In a letter to Speaker Lockwood Smith in December, Labour MP Trevor Mallard accused Mr Brownlee of making false statements when answering questions in Parliament on October 26.
Mr Mallard said Mr Brownlee suggested the main cause of uncertainty over whether The Hobbit would be filmed in New Zealand was the boycott.
However, an email sent from Sir Peter Jackson to Mr Brownlee on October 18 saying there was no connection between the choice of production base and the boycott showed Mr Brownlee's comments in Parliament were deliberately misleading, Mr Mallard said.
"It is not plausible for Mr Brownlee to argue that he was confused or mistaken when he made these misleading statements.
"We now know that he had received unequivocal advice from Sir Peter Jackson that the reason for Warner Brothers reconsidering the filming location for The Hobbit had nothing to do with the action of the unions."
A spokesman for Mr Brownlee rejected Mr Mallard's accusation, saying it was "an absurd claim".
NZPA
Thu, 20 Jan 2011
Thu, 20 Jan 2011
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Brownlee denies lying about Hobbit
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