Richard Taylor checks in with WetaHolics to reveal his personal highlights of 2006...

"Hi Everyone!

It's been a funny old year with a number of ups and downs and I guess some people would say a few more downs than ups, what with the losing of the Halo project and also hearing the sad news about The Hobbit. But, with the view that the cup is always half full I see that we've had a very exciting and wonderful year regardless of these hiccups.

We've completed 45 separate jobs for different clients from New Zealand and around the world in the past 12 months and have now begun work on other wonderful and exciting challenges that I'm sure will give us a huge amount of creative opportunity going into the New Year.

There have been some wonderful highlights including: the chance to work once again with Andrew Adamson and his team on Prince Caspian; Getting to work with friends from years past in the form of Chloe Smith and Rob Tappert from old Hercules days who have been producing David Slade's adaptation of 30 Days of Nights; The completion of Jonathan King's wonderful New Zealand horror comedy, Black Sheep; And continuing our on-going development work on Peter's future projects.

Weta Digital have pulled-off some mind-blowing work on the various films they've been working on but possibly less known is some of the commercials work they've been doing for various international clients that has created some wonderful imagery for the small screen.

Most notable in our year though has been the on-going critical success of our children's television show Jane and The Dragon. We have been delighted to see this TV series which we have all put so much care and energy into for the past three years ultimately reach an audience and be so well received. It's lovely now to read the blogs that come in from all ages around the world with letters to Jane and her Dragon. Martin and I have now begun developing a new show aimed at pre-schoolers which will once again use the great producing skills of Andrew Smith and technical abilities of Trevor Brymer in the creation of our next show.

But on a personal note I reflect on the year and of course the greatest thing that's happened for the Weta Workshop team is the fact that four more Weta babies have been born to people that work here at the Workshop. I think it's a good sign of stability in a relatively fragile and turbulent industry that four more people have found the confidence to begin a family and enjoy all that this can bring.

From myself and Tania we wish you all our best for the holiday season and thank you for your on-going support and interest in what the team here at Weta Workshop are continuing to grow and develop. I look forward to catching up in the New Year and I'm sure the Weta Bug will give you an update on where we are all at.

So here's to lots of merry cheer and hoping that Santa read the list and the stocking is full this Christmas.

Cheers to you all

Richard"