Acclaimed filmmaker Peter Jackson has found himself at the centre of a public dispute in New Zealand after the owners of a much-loved local café revealed they are being forced to shut down next year. The Chocolate Fish Café, located on Wellington’s scenic peninsula, said it has been asked to vacate the historic site owned by Jackson and his partner, filmmaker Fran Walsh.

According to reports, Jackson and Walsh purchased the former Submarine Barracks property in 2023, announcing their intention to restore the location’s “natural beauty." However, the popular seaside café that currently occupies the site said it received notice this week that its lease will end in January 2026, a decision that has left staff and patrons heartbroken.

Calling the news a “devastating blow," the café released

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