Mr Anderson worked in New Zealand and Australia

He was part of the team which created the national museum of New Zealand - where the blockbuster series of Tolkien films were made.

Now he is transforming Ashington's Woodhorn Colliery into a heritage site.

He has been appointed director of the multi-million pound Experience Northumberland at Woodhorn project.

The New Zealander said: "This is a wonderful part of the world and my vision is to create something that thousands of people will want to see and something that will instil a great sense of pride in the people of Northumberland."

Mr Anderson was a member of the management team for the Te Papa Project, the Museum of New Zealand, built on the Wellington waterfront and already receiving nearly 10 million visitors since it opened in 1998.

Mr Anderson added: "The Woodhorn project is one of the most progressive cultural projects in the world at this time.

"I am aware of community desire to see this all happen and I am determined to put my heart and soul into this project."

The Woodhorn project has received a huge �10m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to help turn it into an important landmark and national resource centre.

The museum will feature images, books, documents, the Pitmen Painters collection, the Northumberland miners' banners and the county archives.

The focal point will be a spectacular building with a magnificent serrated roof to portray coal cutting machinery that will house permanent and temporary galleries.

The project is expected to attract more than 75,000 visitors a year.