Awards

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Here are some of the awards we've won, with the help of lots of clever people.

We stand on the shoulders of giants. Here are some of the awards we’ve won, with the help of lots of clever people. We have won over 30 national and international awards for our work in the creative industries and the greater community.

Two decades ago, Wētā Workshop – then a young design studio and physical manufacturing facility – was invited to join director Peter Jackson on an incredible adventure that would go on to define the company and write an important chapter in the history of our country, New Zealand.

Across concept design, miniatures and bigatures, weapons and armour, prosthetics, props, creatures and costumes, the Workshop crew rose to the challenge and went on to help win five Academy Awards® for their efforts. This enduring project is the foundation on which the Workshop is built.

Themed Entertainment Association (Thea) Award, 2021

Location-based Experience, Wētā Workshop Unleashed

Weta Alien
MG 0057 081220

Wētā Workshop Unleashed is a location-based experience in Auckland, New Zealand. To show guests how we make films for the entertainment industry, we invented three original film concepts from the genres that we love – horror, fantasy and sci-fi. It is filled to the brim with interactive experiences, remarkable displays and surprises to delight.

Visual Effects Society Award, 2018

Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project, Blade Runner 2049

winners
Weta Workshop VES Award Blade Runner 2049 LAPD

For Denis Villeneuve’s acclaimed film, Wētā Workshop created three expansive miniature environments. Crew members Alex Funke, Christopher Menges, Steven Saunders, and Joaquin Loyzaga received the VES Award for the enormous LAPD tower.

Trophy
2023

Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement (Immersive Mall Experience)

Haikou - Aura "Forest at the Edge of the Sky"

Trophy
2023

Blooloop Innovation Award for Themed Entertainment

Haikou - Aura "Forest at the Edge of the Sky"

Concept design award Live Action Film Keyframe
2022

Concept Art Award for Live Action Film: Keyframe

Dune

Awards Icons Weta Workshop John Britten Award
2021

Best Award for Lighting Design

Wētā Workshop Unleashed

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Themed Entertainment Award
2021

Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement (Brand Experience)

Wētā Workshop Unleashed

Blooloop vector
2021

Blooloop Innovation Award for Storytelling

Wētā Workshop Unleashed

Trophy
2019

Wellington Gold Award

Dr.Grordbort's Boosters

Awards Icons Weta Workshop VES Award
2018

VES Award for Outstanding Model in a Photoreal or Animated Project

Blade Runner 2049

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Themed Entertainment Award
2017

Themed Entertainment Association Award for Outstanding Achievement

Gallipoli : The scale of our war

Awards Icons Weta Workshop King Vidor Award
2012

King Vidor Award (San Luis Obispo International Film Festival) For Career Achievement in Film

Richard Taylor

Trophy
2012

Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year

Richard Taylor

Awards Icons Weta Workshop OBE
2010

Queen's Honours, Knight Companion of The New Zealand Order of Merit

Richard Taylor

Trophy
2010

Wellington Institute of Technology Honorary Bachelor of Creative Technologies

Richard Taylor

Awards Icons Weta Workshop World Class NZ Award
2009

World Class NZ Awards Supreme Winner

Richard Taylor

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Critics Choice Awards
2009

BFCA Critics Choice Award Best Make-Up

District 9

Trophy
2008

New Zealander of the Year

Richard Taylor

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Export Year Honorary Award
2007

Export Year Honorary Award

Richard Taylor

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Ernst and Young World Entrepreneur Award
2007

Ernest & Young World Entrepreneur of the Year

Richard Taylor

Trophy
2007

Massey University Hall of Fame

Richard Taylor

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Academy Award
2006

Academy Award for achievement in Visual Effects

King Kong

Awards Icons Weta Workshop BAFTA Award
2006

BAFTA Award for Achievement in Special Visual Effects

King Kong

Awards Icons Weta Workshop VES Award
2004

VES Award for Best Miniatures

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Awards Icons Weta Workshop VES Award
2004

VES Award for Best Miniatures

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Awards Icons Weta Workshop John Britten Award
2004

Designers Institute of New Zealand

John Britten Award

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Academy Award
2004

Academy Award for Best Costume

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Academy Award
2004

Academy Award for Best Make-up

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Awards Icons Weta Workshop MAUHS Awards
2004

Hollywood Hair & Make-up Society Award for Best Special Make-up

The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Awards Icons Weta Workshop MAUHS Awards
2003

Hollywood Hair & Make-up Society Award for Best Special Make-up

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Awards Icons Weta Workshop BAFTA Award
2003

BAFTA Award for Best Costume Design

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Trophy
2002

Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards for Best Costume Design

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Trophy
2002

Las Vegas Film Critics' Society Award for Best Costume Design

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Trophy
2002

Las Vegas Film Critics' Society Award for Best Costume Design

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Trophy
2002

Wellington Regional Gold Awards

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Academy Award
2002

Academy Award for Best Make-up

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Academy Award
2002

Academy Award for Best Visual Effects

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Awards Icons Weta Workshop BAFTA Award
2002

BAFTA Award for Best Make-up

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Awards Icons Weta Workshop BAFTA Award
2002

BAFTA Award for Best Visual Effects

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Trophy
1997

Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Model / Miniature

The Frighteners

Awards Icons Weta Workshop NZ Film and Television award
1997

New Zealand Film Awards Best Contribution to Design

Forgotten Silver

Awards Icons Weta Workshop NZ Film and Television award
1997

New Zealand Film Awards Best Contribution to Design

The Ugly

Trophy
1995

Catalonian International Film Festival Award for Best Special Effects

for Braindead [US: Dead Alive]

Trophy
1995

Portuguese Film Festival Award for Best Special Effects

Braindead [US: Dead Alive]

Trophy
1995

Silver Screen (Holland) Award for Best Special Effects

Braindead [US: Dead Alive]

Awards Icons Weta Workshop NZ Film and Television award
1995

New Zealand Film Awards Best Contribution to Design

Braindead [US: Dead Alive]

Awards Icons Weta Workshop NZ Film and Television award
1995

New Zealand Film Awards Best Contribution to Design

Heavenly Creatures

Trophy
1995

Avoriaz Festival Award for Best Special Effects

Braindead [US: Dead Alive]

Trophy
1993

Fantasy Film Awards (Italy) Award for Best Physical Effects

Meet the Feebles

Awards Icons Weta Workshop Stiges Festival Award
1992

Stiges Festival Award for best Special Effects

Braindead

Trophy
1991

Fantasy Film Awards (Italy) Best Physical Effects

Meet the Feebles