"I just had a weta crawling all over me *shiver*" typed gay British actor, author, director and wit Stephen Fry onto his blog this afternoon from Somes Island in Wellington Harbour.
Fry is here for a week filming the follow-up to the 1990 book and radio series Last Chance To See, featuring endangered animal species around the world.
The extremely rare native Kakapo – there are less than 100 of the big green flightless parrots left – has been top on the list of species for Fry to visit, but he's also met weta, tuatara and… Peter Jackson.
There was once only around 20 Kakapo left, but breeding programmes in island wildlife sanctuaries have lead to steadily increasing numbers.
Fry's 'Twitter' text message feature on his website has given few insights into his New Zealand trip so far. He found Air New Zealand "utterly charming" and was pleased to welcome 2009 several hours before his home cities London and New York: "that's NZ for you – way ahead."
