Wellington - The New Zealand army says using soldiers as hobbits or elves is just as patriotic as defending the country and provides valuable experience.
The army on Friday defended its decision to hire out about 100 soldiers to act as extras in battle scenes in the recent filming in New Zealand of the Lord Of The Rings, the classic tale of a war between good and evil.
Opposition lawmaker Ron Mark claimed that the film's producers paid the army an "insulting" and "disgraceful" sum.
Mark, a former officer, said the military should be held accountable for what he claimed was exploitation.
"Taxpayers must be told why, at a time when the government can't afford to increase pay rates for junior ranks (soldiers) serving in East Timor, they are basically giving away soldiers' expertise to a film studio with deep pockets."
The army said the soldiers received their regular pay and rejected claims by Mark that the troops had been paid a derisory NZ$2,45 (about R8,30) an hour.
Army spokesperson Warreo Inkster said: "We used the job as part of a military planning and logistics exercise, and see this as part of our contribution toward Lord Of The Rings."
He said the whole exercise helped sharpen planning and logistics skills before troops were posted on United Nations' peacekeeping duties to East Timor.
"It was a unique experience for our people, a good, positive experience." - Sapa-AP