The countdown has begun. In just over 50 days, Wellington, New Zealand, will again be in the spotlight when it hosts the November world premiere of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

The city will then showcase an artisan festival selling all manner of paraphernalia about the small folk.

To celebrate Wellington's role as host of this much- anticipated world premiere, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown announced on Monday that during the week of the opening, the capital will be renamed the "Middle of Middle Earth".