New Zealand creatives had won multiple Academy Awards at the 2026 Oscars, taking home top prizes in Best Visual Effects and Best Costume Design categories.
New Zealand costume designer Kate Hawley has taken home the Academy Award for Best Costume Design for the film Frankenstein.
Accepting the award from former Vogue editor Anna Wintour and actress Anne Hathaway, Hawley paid tribute to the team behind her work, thanking the Academy for recognising what she described as the craft of “the artisans, the alchemists, the dream weavers”.
“It’s been such a privilege to stand alongside so many incredible designers,” she said, acknowledging fellow nominees and collaborators.
Hawley also thanked director Guillermo del Toro for his creative leadership, telling him it had been “a great privilege” to be part of his vision and journey.
“Our nominations are your nominations,” she said, sharing the honour with the wider production team and cast.
She also gave a special mention to her family, including her daughter, supporters back home, and the Netflix team behind the film.
“I’m so, so grateful. Thank you very much for recognising our craft.”
Wellington’s Wētā FX won the award for Best Visual Effects for their work on James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash.
Honourees Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon and Daniel Barrett accepted the award on behalf of the more than 1200 Wētā FX crew who contributed to the film.
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude and deeply honoured to receive the Visual Effects award from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for our work on Avatar: Fire and Ash,” they said.
“To be recognised by the Academy is something we never take lightly. This award represents years of passion, risk, collaboration, and an unwavering belief in what cinema can achieve when artistry and technology move together in service of story.
“We also want to acknowledge the extraordinary film community of New Zealand. The talent, generosity, and collaborative spirit here are unlike anywhere else.
“It is a privilege to create alongside such dedicated and innovative people, and to bring world-class filmmaking to the global stage from this remarkable corner of the world.”
Wētā’s head of VFX Matt Aitken said it’s been “a particularly strong awards season for us”.
“We are proud every day of the work we do and our incredibly talented, best-in-class crew, so it is a true honour for everyone’s efforts to be recognised with the most prestigious accolades in our industry.”
The Oscar and BAFTA trophies won for the film will travel back to Wētā FX studios in Wellington.
All three of Cameron’s Avatar movies have now won the Oscar for Best Visual Effects.