Can't think of many other people who have contributed to "Kiwi-wood" as much as PJ so throughly deserved. Arguably Richard Taylor in Weta Workshop as well. Between the two of them they've turned what was somewhat of a cottage industry into a go-to area for those who want to make films in epic locales away from the distractions of Syndey or LA.
It doesn't hurt that he instinctively makes a lot of his movies there and is very enthusiastic about NZ filmmakers. After all, it's not just LoTR which has made money over there, they made King Kong and the new Tintin movie is being shot there too. The revenue he's probably generated for the islands must be in the tens of millions, from tourism to tax.
