Makers of popular TV show ‘Game of Thrones’ have confirmed today that series 4 and 5 will be shot entirely in New Zealand.

Previously shot in various locations in and around Ireland, the decision to move the production to New Zealand was driven by excessive snow falls in areas such as Canterbury and Queenstown, which would be ideal for filming.
Producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss said that ‘the stunning scenery and landscapes in New Zealand perfectly represent the world of Westeros in what is going to be a long, cold winter.’
Weiss then added that ‘winters been coming for 3 bloody years now, so we needed somewhere that had snow, and lots of it.
Weiss also denied rumours that they intended to re-use movie sets from Lord of the Rings, although there was an agreement with local film studio’s to use their extensive CGI experience to create ‘some of the epic battle scenes about to take place’.   Insiders say Peter Jackson, director of the ‘Rings’ films is in negotiations to direct two episodes.
Jackson said while nothing was confirmed, ‘he would welcome the opportunity, ‘and it would be ‘really lovely to put a few of my rings actors in the show’
Game of Thrones is the most pirated TV show in the world, and international data traffic to New Zealand spikes the day after each episode airs in the United Sates.
Most New Zealand devotees of the show welcomed the move, with one fan observing that once it’s filmed in New Zealand, “my download will be heaps quicker, because when everyone’s trying to download it, the internet gets all stuffed up bro.”
However some of the cast are unhappy, with Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) admitting he was not that keen to re-locate to New Zealand.  This is despite the fact that Jackson is offering him a role in the next Hobbit movie while in New Zealand saying ‘the dude looks like he was destined to be a Hobbit at some stage of his career’
Benioff responded by saying that anyone against the move, would have their character suffer a short but violent death at the hands of King Joffery in the next opening episode of series 4.