Carterton recalls balloon victims

Families of those who died in Carterton's ballooning tragedy have the support of all New Zealanders, Prime Minister John Key told a memorial service yesterday.

The Prime Minister said the balloon crash in January, in which 11 people died, was "a shock for this community and a shock for the whole country", coming at a time when many people were relaxing on holiday.

The civic service in the Carterton Events Centre was attended by more than 300 people consisting of families and friends of the victims, emergency services staff, dignitaries and members of the public.

Besides Mr Key, speakers included Carterton Mayor Ron Mark and the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mataparae. People began arriving early and musicians Andy Eldred and Pat McKenna played background music.

A haka by children from Carterton School welcomed the official party and guests stood as victims' immediate families and emergency services staff filed in, followed by dignitaries.

The Reverend Mihi Namana welcomed guests to the events centre, which she said had provided shelter for victims and emergency services workers and was a place "where the community came together as one".

Mr Mark said January 7 was "a time when the unimaginable happened" and assured the families that "your loved ones will never be forgotten in Carterton".

The mayor said that in the aftermath of the crash, emergency service workers had to deal with an event that "claimed the lives of people they knew".

Other citizens saw the accident and "many of them ran to the crash site", Mr Mark said.

Mr Mark said a "new greeting" had emerged in Carterton among those most closely involved with the tragedy, which was looking into the eyes and asking, "How are you?"

"We know that things like this do take a toll."

With the Balloons Over Wairarapa festival due to open this week, Mr Mark said "not one" family member had suggested the event not go ahead - and many wanted to "fly themselves as a tribute to their loved ones".

The Prime Minister and the Governor-General both spoke of the strength of people supporting each other in hard times, of which Mr Key said New Zealand has had "more than our fair share in the past couple of years".

Mr Key said the Government had a responsibility to find out what had gone wrong and would do so. Sir Jerry told Carterton that, "though the circumstances were tragic, your strength as a community was your greatest asset".