Weapons and armour from epic fantasy films will hold centre stage over the next four months.

For some 230 pieces of hardware made by New Zealand craftsmen will make up the display, Arms and Armour from the Movies: the Wonderful World of WETA.

It opens privately on Thursday with the red carpet treatment for guests amd film food like candyfloss, popcorn and hot dogs.

The exhibition then opens to the public on Saturday and will run until November 16.

Master swordsmith Peter Lyons, from Wellington, will visit in September and Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of The Rings triology has been invited.

The show is overseen by Bob Woosnam-Savage, senior curator of historic edged weapons, for whom it is a dream come true.

"I have been thinking about an exhibition of arms and armour from the movies for nearly 20 years," he said. "I started a correspondence with Richard Taylor, one of the directors of the WETA Workshop, and met him in New Zealand when I was there on holiday. We discussed the possibility of an exhibition and suddenly here we are.

"All fans of The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings will see their favourite pieces of arms here.

"There is Gandalf's sword and Gimli's axe and the White Witch's wand. We have got the aluminium stunt sword used by Sean Bean when he played Boromir in Fellowship of the Ring.

"I don't think fans will be disappointed."

"We also have Frodo's sword Sting and the helmet worn by Sauron, the bad guy."

Lisa Turton, events and interpretation officer, says the Armouries will hold themed evenings once a month linked to the exhibition
The first, on August 14, will be devoted to The Chronicles of Narnia.