When Lucire first broke news yesterday about Peter Jackson’s knighthood in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours’ List—and before anyone in the country did, I might add—I was particularly delighted.
   Peter Jackson deserves a knighthood not just because he makes marvellous films. Peter Jackson deserves a knighthood because he continues to believe in New Zealand even after certain bodies and their bureaucrats gave him grief.
   Before he was a big name internationally, there was reported tension between Jackson and the New Zealand Film Commission in the 1990s.
   Because Jackson believed in this country so much, he got over it. A lesser man would have thought, ‘If the establishment won’t accept me, I’ll leave.’
   Many of the big Kiwi names in movies are based in California, because when they left there was no centre for movie production in New Zealand. And they wanted somewhere that could understand their vision for making movies.
   Instead, Jackson fought to make his Lord of the Rings trilogy in New Zealand—setting up a world-class hub for film in Wellington.
   While some politicians would like to give credit to the Tourism New Zealand 100 Per Cent Pure campaign for lifting the national image, I’ve always argued it was the effort of one man—Jackson—for bringing the country to the world stage.
   Destination branding can be ignored, passed over as just another tourism ad in a travel magazine. Peter Jackson alone gave it that hook, and if any one man can take credit for the first decade’s economic boosts, it is him.
   Through Jackson not only did the films become nice earners for New Zealand, the tourist industry boomed because of the trilogy. And the Film Commission came right in the end.
   And in many respects, Peter Jackson kicked the tall poppy syndrome idea out of the country’s psyche where it could only be entertained by a few foreign companies who use it to keep Kiwis down. Peter Jackson changed our culture.
   This knighthood is long overdue, but I applaud this honour for Jackson. He is a patriot, a word that should not have politically incorrect shades. His level of pride is just what New Zealand needs. Sir Peter Jackson is an inspirational figure and one hopes many others will have faith in their own beliefs, in the way that he does.

Filmmaker Peter Jackson will receive a knighthood in HM the Queen’s New Year Honours’ List in New Zealand, according to sources.
   While administered by the Herald-at-Arms in New Zealand, the honours have the sanction of HM Queen Elizabeth II.
   Jackson may style himself Sir Peter Jackson if he chooses.
   Jackson is best known for his adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, for which he has been honoured with numerous Academy Awards, including Best Director in 2004.
   Instead of filming the big-budget blockbusters in Hollywood, Jackson insisted on making them on location in New Zealand, using local talent, in spite of earlier tensions with the New Zealand Film Commission. Weta Workshop, a New Zealand company based in Wellington, worked on the digital visual effects.
   While there were many notable filmmakers from New Zealand prior, Jackson and Weta virtually created the modern New Zealand film industry by bringing it to international recognition.
   Additionally, former prime minister Helen Clark was awarded the Order of New Zealand, the highest accolade in the country’s honours’ system.

Above Grace Kelly in a publicity shot for Rear Window.

The Victoria & Albert Museum will showcase Grace Kelly’s wardrobe with over 50 of her outfits on show, including hats and the original Hermès Kelly bag. Grace Kelly: Style Icon runs from April 17 to September 26 in room 40 of the Museum.
   Her dresses from films such as High Society and Rear Window are included, as well as the gown she wore to accept her Oscar in 1955. The dress she wore on the announcement of her engagement to HSH Prince Rainier will be on display, along with her lace wedding dress, which she wore in her marriage ceremony in 1956.
   As Princess Grace of Monaco, she had a selection of couture gowns from Dior, Balenciaga, Givenchy and Yves St Laurent. Mainly from the 1960s and 1970s, 35 outfits will be shown.
   The exhibition will also include film footage, posters, family photographs and magazines.
   Kelly died in 1982 after a car accident, and would have turned 80 last month.
   An admission charge will apply.

One fashion item we didn’t get to talk about properly during 2009, due to conflicting schedules, was the Gatoure, a reversible accessory that transforms shoes into boots. They take the principle of gators, but feature far nicer fabrics on one side (silks and animal print satin) and neutral linens and cottons on the other. The brainchild of Janelle Rodrigues and Sara Fraser, they are handmade in strictly limited editions and available online at their website, www.gatoure.co.nz.

There aren’t many celebrity names in HM Queen Elizabeth II’s New Year Honours’ List, according to sources, and no rumours have circulated over any names in the fashion trade.
   It has been understood for some time that Yorkshire actor Patrick Stewart, 69, will receive a knighthood.
   Gymnast Beth Tweddle and racing car driver Jenson Button will each receive an MBE.
   The Daily Telegraph adds that Mark Jones, director of the Victoria & Albert Museum, will likely be knighted, as might Ian McGeechan, the rugby coach.
   Earlier this month, another Yorkshireman, Christopher Bailey of Burberry, collected his MBE from HRH the Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace.

Tyra Banks has announced that her daytime talk show will end, with the last episodes to be made in the spring.
   Even after the end of production, the show will continue to air for 2010–11, though with best-of episodes, says Variety.
   The Tyra Show began in 2005, and has won Daytime Emmys in 2008 and 2009.
   Banks says her plans after the show ends will be to focus on a new film company, Bankable Studios. In addition, she would continue to be involved with reality series America’s Next Top Model and True Beauty.

[Cross-posted] I posted this on my Tumblog earlier today but it is worth repeating here:

I captioned it, ‘We probably will keep thinking [climate change] is someone else’s problem till we encounter threats like the Maldives and other places do: if we don’t do something, our country will disappear. But this graphic is a heck of a good reminder.’
   The pic says it all, really.

Looks like 2010 will begin with more celebrity fragrances.
   As revealed earlier this month, Beyoncé Knowles’s Heat, for Coty, will launch in February, with hints of red vanilla orchid, magnolia, neroli and blush peach.
   From being a L’Oréal Paris face to having a scent of her own, Eva Longoria-Parker will launch Eva by Eva Longoria, an eau du parfum, in the spring. The scent has been developed by Falic Fashion Group.
   Longoria-Parker says that the fragrance will be light, after having had allergic reactions to other perfumes, she told Women’s Wear Daily.