Oscar-winning director Peter Jackson has undergone emergency surgery at a New Zealand hospital.

Jackson was admitted to Wellington Hospital late last night with acute stomach pains.

A statement issued by his production company said he underwent surgery for a perforated stomach ulcer.

"Sir Peter is currently resting comfortably and his doctors expect him to make a full recovery," spokeswoman Melissa Booth said in a statement.

"The surgery is not expected to impact on his directing commitment to the Hobbit beyond a slight delay to the start of filming."

Filming of the two movies of The Hobbit, based on the JRR Tolkien fantasy novel, had been expected to start around the middle of February.

The first movie will be released in December 2012 and the second is expected a year later.

Jackson's other film credits include the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, King Kong and The Lovely Bones.