Wētā Workshop Unleashed

30/07/2025

Time to take a roll! ⚔️🎲We are SO excited to be hosting Questbook's Tabletop Challenge Night here in our events space at Unleashed.

This isn't your usual one-shot evening though. It’s going to be a fast-paced, high-energy creative gauntlet where quick thinking, bold moves, and sharp teamwork will be your greatest assets.

The beacons have been lit! Will you answer?
Grab your spot today🔥

Date: Sunday 17th August Time: 6pm - 9pm Location: Wētā Workshop Unleashed AKL - Tāmaki-makau-rau

28/07/2025

In our world, we love all things monstrous—especially when it comes to DRAGONS! 🐲

Our school holiday dragon sculpting workshops were a hit, but it’s not the only time you’ll catch these mighty beasts taking shape.

Step into the Dragon Fire Forge on our tour, where a massive hand-sculpted dragon coils around a central fireplace. Its jaw stretches open in a fiery roar, breathing flames right into the hearth. Have a look at how our artists brought the magic of dragons to life.

25/07/2025

Get to know our Unleashed Family! ✨
Meet Sammy, our Attractions Assistant Manager!

Sammy has been part of the Unleashed whanau since day one - and even before that, she spent a couple of years as a host at Wētā Workshop Experiences in Wellington. 🦗 Altogether, she’s been with us for over 8 years!

• What is your favourite part about working at Unleashed?
"Definitely the people - whether it’s our crew, our guests or the incredible partners we collaborate with. It’s the people who make Unleashed what it is. I love hearing about the creative projects our team is working on, sometimes even using their spare moments at work to bring ideas to life. 🎨 Guests often share photos of their own creations and there's this amazing energy that comes from people either making something themselves or being completely blown away by what they see. At its core, Unleashed is about creativity - and getting to experience that through the people around me is what I love most."

• What has been a favourite moment of yours at work?
"One of my favourite moments was during my time as a tour guide in Wellington. We used to run a tour that featured miniature sets from Thunderbirds Are Go! - a reboot of the beloved 1960s TV show. On one particular tour, an older gentleman stayed very quiet throughout the beginning, taking everything in silently. When we finally reached the reveal of the Thunderbirds sets, I noticed he was crying. Concerned, I asked if he was alright. He looked at me, eyes full of emotion, and said, "I'm simply wonderful." He explained how deeply moved he was by the craftsmanship, the creativity of turning everyday junk into miniature magic, and how much it meant to see a modern remake that honoured the spirit of the original series that had impacted him so profoundly.
That moment has always stayed with me. It was a powerful reminder that every tour matters and that each visitor deserves a world-class experience, no matter what. It’s a philosophy we truly live by here at Unleashed - and one I carry with pride." 💛

• Which movie or book sparks your creativity the most?
"I love the Inkheart book series. I’ve read it many times. They offer such incredible escapism. The world and characters are so vivid, and as an avid reader, I often dream of slipping between the pages and exploring those worlds myself. 😍 I especially love the character of Dustfinger - his journey is compelling and emotional. Seeing him brought to life by Paul Bettany in the movie adaptation was a real treat!"

18/07/2025

When night falls....the creatures come out to play! 🌙👾

At Unleashed, our special events are anything but ordinary. Our talented crew and artists turn the experience into a living, breathing fantasy - from robot waitstaff and dino MCs to live dwarf transformations.

Keep your eyes peeled - there might be a creature or two lurking in the Slaughterhouse... 👀

15/07/2025

All good things must come to an end… including our epic School Holidays Sculpting Workshop - How to Train Your Dragon edition!🔥

We loved seeing the creativity, the curiosity and the fiery imagination!

Keep your eyes peeled for our next school holiday workshop or sign up to our newsletter to be the first to hear what's coming next here: https://confirmsubscription.com/h/y/1B9768BA5C42C2A8

Any guesses what it might be? 👀

11/07/2025

Yes, that is vegetable fat - and yes, that is Richard Taylor sculpting with it 👀

Last week at an event we hosted, armed with only kitchen tools and imagination, our founder and creative director shows that creativity doesn’t need fancy, or expensive equipment, just a curious mind and a bit of courage. Get messy. Follow the whimsy! 🪄

05/07/2025

Get to know our Unleashed Family! ✨
Meet Marcus, the wizard amongst our magical landscapes, he is our facilities technician!

• What is a piece of advice you’d give to someone starting in your creative field?
"Say yes! Just say yes and figure it out later. That’s been my mantra. Working in props, sets and maintenance at Unleashed, you never really know what’s coming next. I once got asked to build a giant banana sculpture, had no clue how I was gonna do it, but I said yes anyway! You learn on the fly, get creative and somehow make it work. That’s how the coolest stuff happens." 🎨

• If you could collaborate with any artist, living or dead, who would it be?
"George Lucas, what a legend. I’d love to just sit down and have a conversation with him. Picking his brains about how he built the Star Wars universe, how he thinks about storytelling, worldbuilding and pushing the limits of practical effects - it’d be incredible 🤩 Hearing about the risks he took and how he stayed true to his vision would be super inspiring. (Highly recommend watching Light & Magic on Disney+)"

• When not working at Unleashed, what can you be found doing?
"You’ll probably find me 3D printing and painting movie prop replicas, photographing boats or working on a film set."

• What’s a fun fact about you that most people don’t know?
"I’ve been learning Norwegian, just for fun. I just love the sound of it and the challenge. Probably not super useful at Unleashed... unless a Viking shows up needing to fix something 🪓 But hey, it keeps my brain busy and it makes for a pretty cool party trick!"

02/07/2025

Whether you're a believer or just UFO-curious, Happy World UFO Day to those that celebrate 👽

30/06/2025

School Holidays are in full swing already! 🤩 Today we hosted the first of our daily Dragon Sculpting Workshops, inspired by How to Train Your Dragon 🐲

School may be out for a couple of weeks, but creativity still thrives here at Unleashed. Let your imagination take flight! 🧑‍🎨

Book now:https://www.wetaworkshop.com/tours/auckland/unleashed/dragon-sculpting

27/06/2025

Bringing worlds to life can be quite different than you may think... 👀

Take our beautiful fantasy castle - underneath all of that beauty and ancient magic is simply polystyrene foam that has been carved with hot tools and chainsaws! 🏰

22/06/2025

"If you're even remotely a fan of film, fantasy or the art of movie-making, Wētā Workshop Unleashed is an absolute must-visit. I’m a huge fan of behind-the-scenes work - how props are made, creatures are built and worlds are brought to life - and this place absolutely exceeded all expectations.

Our tour guide, Will, was nothing short of phenomenal. I wasn’t feeling 100% that day, but Will noticed almost instantly, checked in with me, and responded with genuine care and warmth. That kind of personal touch made the whole experience even more unforgettable. Not only was he incredibly kind and attentive, but also hilarious, passionate, knowledgeable and just a joy to be around. He had us laughing one minute and awestruck the next.

Now, on to the workshop itself - WOW.

This isn't just a museum or a standard tour. It’s an immersive cinematic journey through three original film worlds created just for this experience: a horror film set, a fantasy adventure, and a mind-bending sci-fi epic. Each section brings Wētā Workshop's artistry to life with practical effects, animatronics, miniatures, prosthetics and behind-the-scenes secrets that feel like they’ve been pulled straight from Hollywood’s vault.

The staff are not just guides; they’re real industry artists and technicians who know their craft and love sharing it. You feel the passion and magic in every room.

Whether you're a die-hard film geek, a casual fan, or someone who just loves art and imagination, Wētā Workshop Unleashed is pure magic. I left feeling inspired, amazed and even more in love with the movie-making process."

MJ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐