New Zealand news station One News had the following short piece on the rising fears of damage to the natural preserves by Peter Jackson’s film crews.

FILMING RAISES CONSERVATION FEARS

One News – November 12, 1999

An environmental group is worried that
filming of the Lord of the Rings movie in
several national parks could compromise
their conservation values.

The Department of Conservation has
agreed to let film maker Peter Jackson’s
company film on sites in the Mount Owen
area near Murchison, the Wakatipu Basin
near town, and Te Anau and
Fiordland.

Conservation Minister Nick Smith says DOC
has attached a series of strict
environmental conditions to the consent,
and compliance will be monitored by DOC
staff on-site.

But Barry Lawrence of the Wakatipu
Environmental Society says incessant
helicopter noise from another company
filming there is already proving disruptive.

Filming in the South Island will start next
week and could continue for up to nine
months.