Hobbiton set to shrivel in Waikato drought

at 1:58 am by - February 28, 20131:58 am by Demosthenes

Bilbo Baggins’ lush green shire could have the life sucked out of it after Waikato’s undeclared drought restricted Hobbiton’s water supply.

It’s the region’s driest summer in five years and, with no rain in sight, Matamata best known tourist attraction may become three hectares of parched grass and stressed plants.

Losing the green image threatens to damage Hobbiton’s international image and could cost thousands of dollars to fix, manager Russell Alexander said yesterday.

The film set, that featured in both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, has enjoyed an unprecedented summer of business.

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