In a galaxy about 20 kilometres from the capital, a Star Wars superfan from Porirua is bringing his intergalactic dream to life.
For more than a decade, Mark Owen’s collected costumes, life-size figures, and props from the space opera film franchise.
“I’m a crazy collector — I collect everything,” Owen said.
His first purchase was R2D2, which lights up and makes all of the character’s sound effects.
“Once you start, when do you stop?”
Now he owns costumes of most of the Star Wars characters, including a Chewbacca suit that he likes to wear.
Despite being a big fan of space, his massive collection means he doesn’t have much of it left in his garage.
“It’s a mess,” he said.
With his garage overflowing, Owen’s building his very own Star Wars mancave to put his items on display.
“It’s what I’ve dreamt of having — I’m so excited about it.”
But he doesn’t just collect Star Wars items — he’s also now the owner of the world’s biggest Thor hammer.
“There was somebody in Christchurch that was bidding against me, so we got into a bit of a bid war. Eventually, I purchased it for $12,500.”
Owen’s wife Margarita thought he was just buying a normal hammer.
“I knew he was buying a hammer, but I didn’t know he was buying this,” she said.
The funds from the Thor hammer auction all went to the Wellington Children’s Hospital.
“I just felt that I had to have it, and it was going to such a great cause,” Owen said.
Earlier this year he had a health scare after being diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“We got through it together and realised how precious life really is and in no time at all, it can be taken from you so quickly,” he said.
His diagnosis is part of the reason why he’s fulfilling his life-long dream of building his very own Star Wars barn.
“You just have to enjoy every minute, make the most of every second, and move forward positively,” he said.
And his optimistic outlook has paid off — Owen is now “100% clear, which is fabulous”.
“I survived.”
Margarita described her husband as a “big kid”, adding, “it’s really sweet that that inner child in him is so alive”.
Construction on the site is set to be completed before the end of the year.
The Owens will host a Star Wars-themed party when it’s finished.