Army ammo techs and airforce armourers will carry out range clearance operations this week once the RNZAF has finished using the targets for bombing. The aim is to clear all old munitions and targets from the area before the film crew arrives.
Personnel from the production company were on site today (4 April)
Although only speculation, the area suggests itself to be used for the approaches to Mordor, or possibly scenes within mordor itself? Mt Ruapehu could be Mt Doom, time will tell.