Carterton balloons to return skyward

The first public ballooning event since the Clareville crash that killed 11 people is set to be held at Waitangi Weekend, nearly a month after the tragedy.

The MG Car Club is holding its national rally in Wairarapa, featuring the Balloon Trial, in which about 150 classic British sports cars will follow the path of four balloons and collect a playing card from each one, with the best poker hand winning.

Convener Ross Armstrong said it would be the first time such an activity would be held in New Zealand and just the third in the world.

He said the biennial rally had been in the planning for a year and the club had spoken to Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell, Carterton Mayor Ron Mark, Balloons Over Wairarapa co-ordinator Jonathan Hooker and photographer Geoff Walker, who photographed the crash as it happened and will be taking photos at the event, about issues surrounding balloons flying so soon after the accident.

"When the crash happened, there was a lot of discussion over whether we should run the trial, but I spoke to the mayors and Jonathan and Geoff about it and they have all said it should go ahead.

"Geoff, who took photographs for Lance Hopping, is going to photograph the event for us and he's very pleased to be involved."

Lance Hopping was meant to fly one of the five balloons planned for the event, and Mr Armstrong said he had talked to a Hawke's Bay pilot who was considering flying in the event in his place.

"It's a very emotional issue and in the ballooning community there is a lot of mixed emotion. In the end, the weather being the way it is at the moment, it may not even happen or some of the balloonists may feel they may not be able to do it, but at the moment we're progressing as if it's going to happen."

Mr Armstrong said organisers were "conscious that there are people out there who don't want to see balloons in the air just yet.

"Even though Balloons Over Wairarapa has got the go-ahead, that's a good month away - this one is next week, nearly a month to the day since the crash."

Mr Daniell said the event should be thought of as an independent event to Balloons Over Wairarapa as it was a competition and did not involve the public taking rides in the balloons.

"Although it's still ballooning, it's part of a competition and it doesn't involve spectators in balloons - it's a novelty event as part of their rally."

He said there was no sensitivity issue as far as the victims' families were concerned and the event was a positive thing for the district.

"I think it has been established that none of the relatives of the deceased have felt there should be a ban on ballooning in the future and, as a consequence of that, the decision has been made to hold the balloon festival in March.

"It is really great that the Wairarapa continues to host such interesting events and to remind people that there are lots of things to do here, good roads to drive on, and good facilities and accommodation, so there are a lot of positive things to come from this event."

Mr Mark said he was made aware of the event and consulted the community on whether the event should go ahead.

"I have had no negative feedback that indicates the event should be cancelled or postponed. The majority of the feedback is that ballooning should continue, and I think it's a question of the community getting back to normal and expressing confidence in balloons."

He said the primary focus of the Carterton community was preparing for Balloons Over Wairarapa in March and organising a civic memorial service for the public and the families of the victims.

"Our primary focus has been the festival in March, which directly involves Carterton while the rally involves Masterton. It is an iconic event in Carterton.

"There will be a civic service and once we are in a position to announce a date for it, we will do so."

The MG Car Club National Rally will begin on Saturday at 9.45am with a street parade through Masterton to Hood Aerodrome where all cars will be on display until 4pm. The balloons are set to fly at 6.30-7am on Sunday morning.