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Wellington hosts the New Zealand premiere of Peter Jackson's latest movie The Lovely Bones today at Embassy Theatre.

Peter Jackson will be attending as will some of the film's stars including Susan Sarandon, Saoirse Ronan, Rose McIver and Carolyn Dando on the red carpet in Courtenay Place.

Fans will also be treated to an appearance from a number of other New Zealand celebrities, including Wellington actress Geraldine Brophy, Shortland Street actress Kimberley Crossman, Outrageous Fortune's Shane Cortese and Kiwi singer Tim Beveridge.

However, Mayor Kerry Prendergast is disappointed she won't be able to attend the premiere because she will be at the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen.

Starting at 6pm, the stars of the film and special guests will walk the red carpet from the corner of Blair Street and Courtenay Place to the Embassy Theatre. Fans will have the opportunity to see them and collect autographs on the red carpet.

Wellington City Council and Paramount Pictures are offering fans the chance to get up close to the red carpet. Two free public grandstands will be in place on Cambridge Terrace and Kent Terrace, next to the Embassy Theatre entrance. Seating in the grandstands is limited and will be open from about 5:00pm.

Local bar Sandwiches, located on the ocrner of Majoribanks St and kent Terrace, is getting in on the act too. They will be open from 4pm right through till late with DJs spinning tunes. Drop on in for a drink or two on the way to or from the red carpet action... you never know just who you might see!

The capital last hosted a New Zealand premiere for a blockbuster movie in 2005, for Jackson's King Kong. It sparked wild scenes as Courtenay Place was turned into a party zone, with thousands of fans waving giant inflatable bananas and screaming to get the attention of the film's stars Naomi Watts and Adrien Brody.

Road Closures & Bus Redirections

Click here to download a PDF Map of the road closures.

To provide a safe environment for spectators, the following road closures will be in place on Monday from 11:00am to 12 midnight:
* Courtenay Place (Tory Street to Cambridge Terrace)
* Cambridge Terrace (Tennyson Street to Wakefield Street)
* Kent Terrace (Wakefield Street to Elizabeth Street)
* Majoribanks Street (Kent Terrace to Roxburgh Street)
* Edge Hill (controlled access only)
* Alpha Street (controlled access only)
* Blair Street (controlled access only)
* Allen Street (controlled access only)

There will be extensive parking restrictions on the above closed roads and some surrounding streets from 8:00am on Monday. Bus stops, mobility parking and taxi stands will be relocated.

All bus services between 11am and 12 midnight will divert along the following routes:

Mana/Newlands and Valley Flyer buses
Inbound services will terminate in Wakefield Street outside the Michael Fowler Centre. Outbound services will start at the Dixon Street bus stop.

Go Wellington Buses

Route 1 and 3 - inbound as normal until they reach the Rintoul, Adelaide and John Street intersection where it will follow route 10 and 11 along Wallace and Taranaki streets. Outbound to follow the same diversion as the route 11 and then go back onto the normal route.

Route 2, 5, 6 and 91 - inbound as normal to Cambridge Terrace then left onto Tennyson Street then right down Tory Street then left onto Courtenay Place and then follow the normal route. Outbound to follow normal route until Taranaki Street where they will turn up Taranaki Street then left down Vivian Street then left up Cambridge Terrace and right into Elizabeth Street where they will follow the normal route again.

Route 20 - inbound as normal until they take a left onto Brougham Street and a right onto Elizabeth Street and will then follow the route 2 diversion. Outbound will follow the route 2 diversion until they take a left onto Brougham Street and a right onto Majoribanks Street and then follow the normal route.

Route 14 and 24 - inbound will follow normal routes until they reach the Central Fire Station were they will take a left onto Wakefield Street and follow that until Taranaki Street were they will take a left and then right onto Dixon Street and from there follow the normal route. Outbound will follow normal routes but will use the Wakefield Street stop instead of the Cuba Street one then will take a left at Taranaki Street and right onto Cable Street and follow the normal route from there.

Route 4, 22/23 and 43/44 - inbound will follow normal routes until they reach the Basin reserve were they will take a left onto Buckle Street and right onto Taranaki Street then left onto Dixon Street and follow their normal routes from there. Outbound will follow normal routes until they reach Taranaki Street were they will take a right, then left onto Vivian Street and right onto Kent Terrace were they will follow normal routes again.

If you are coming to Wellington for the premiere and need to find accommodation, check out our Accommodation Guide for hotels, motels, backpacker hostels and homestays in the Wellington region.

The Lovely Bones is released in New Zealand cinemas on Boxing Day, 26 December.

The Lovely Bones, directed by Peter Jackson, centres on a 14-year-old girl, played by Irish actress Saoirse Ronan, who has been murdered and watches over her family and her killer from heaven. Jackson shot some of the NZ$104 million movie in Pennsylvania, as well as in Wellington. Heaven was created and shot at his Miramar studios.

Watch the official trailer for The Lovely Bones.

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