Wellington, New Zealand – Sir Peter Jackson’s ambitious plans for a movie museum in Wellington are moving forward, albeit with a new location and a history of navigating complex negotiations. After previous plans to house the museum within the Tākina convention and exhibition centre fell through in 2018, Jackson and his partner, Dame Fran Walsh, have quietly been assembling a sizable plot of land in Lyall Bay, acquiring the properties at a cost of $105 million in 2024.
The 2.7-hectare site, purchased under the company LB HC (believed to stand for Lyall Bay Holding Company), is now understood to be the intended location for the long-discussed museum. This venture, described as Wellington’s “worst-kept secret,” represents a significant investment in the city’s cultural landscape, though it hasn’t been without its hurdles. The path to realizing this vision has been marked by disagreements with the Wellington City Council and a previous failed attempt to integrate the museum into the Tākina centre.
The initial proposal, undertaken through The Movie Museum Limited (TMML) – owned by Jackson, Walsh, and Wētā Workshop’s Richard Taylor and Tania Rodger – envisioned a world-class attraction boasting a collection of iconic Hollywood memorabilia. Documents previously presented to the council highlighted potential exhibits including the original car from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Charlie Chaplin’s cane. Estimates at the time suggested the museum could attract 350,000 visitors annually, generate $28.2 million in new spending, and create 258 jobs.
However, negotiations between TMML and the council soured, leading to a “mutual agreement to part ways” regarding the Tākina integration. Accusations flew, with TMML alleging the council attempted to “sabotage the project,” while the then-mayor, Justin Lester, maintained the council had made a strong effort but faced delays from other parties in finalizing plans. Prior to the Tākina proposal, Jackson had also explored the possibility of building the museum at Shelly Bay around 2012, but that idea did not progress.
Jackson’s commitment to establishing a museum isn’t occurring in isolation. In 2023, he and Walsh purchased land at Shelly Bay with the stated intention of restoring its “natural beauty” and halting a planned $500 million housing development. Resource consent documents reveal ongoing work at the Shelly Bay property to construct a smaller museum and exhibition space. This development led to the closure of the popular local cafe, The Chocolate Fish, after 15 years of operation.
Further demonstrating his expanding presence in the Wellington area, Jackson is also involved in a large-scale development near his Miramar film studios. This project encompasses a veterinary hospital, an animal quarantine centre, residential units, and a substantial storage facility.
Jackson’s property acquisitions extend beyond these high-profile projects. Reports from 2023 indicated a property portfolio estimated at $350 million, including various lots on the Miramar Peninsula, warehouses in Upper Hutt, rural residences in Masterton, the Roxy cinema, Bats theatre, and an $8.5 million Queenstown holiday home. He recently added the site of a local school to his holdings.
His property dealings have also drawn local attention, notably the demolition of a 1910s waterfront home valued at $2.5 million to create a garden for an adjacent property. These moves underscore Jackson’s significant financial investment in the Wellington region and his growing influence on the local landscape.
As of , representatives from Jackson’s Wingnut Group have confirmed meetings with council officials to discuss “processes and requirements for potential long-term development initiatives in Wellington,” but have declined to provide further details. Jackson and Walsh currently rank fifth on the NBR Rich List with a reported net worth of $2.6 billion.
The Lyall Bay museum project represents a renewed effort to bring Jackson’s vision to fruition, and while details remain scarce, the substantial investment and ongoing development suggest a firm commitment to creating a lasting legacy for New Zealand’s film industry and a significant cultural attraction for the capital city.
