Pirate parrot balloon biggie

FULL OF HOT AIR: Peg Leg Pete will grace the skies over Wairarapa in March. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

A giant 90ft (27m) pirate's parrot will be the feature hot-air balloon at next year's Wairarapa Balloon Festival, launched last night in Masterton.

Peg Leg Pete, a balloon built in Brazil in 2013 which has an envelope weight of 227kg, will be joined by 20 other hot-air balloons during the festival to be held at various venues throughout Wairarapa from March 12-15.

At last night's festival launch at The Farriers, Masterton Mayor Lyn Patterson said Peg Leg Pete would be piloted by David Reineke from Illinois in the US, and was tipped to be a major crowd-pleaser.

"This enormous, special-shaped balloon will add to a colourful and fabulous display in the skies over the Wairarapa Valley in March, she said.

"Having such an amazing balloon flying overhead will help capture the imaginations of everyone who sees it."

Guests at the launch were told that a new organising committee had been brought together to run the 2015 festival.

The committee was headed by Jonathan Hooker, Wairarapa Balloon Society chairman, David Paris, society treasurer, Jenna Snelgrove of Tranzit Group, Mallory Dawes, who would be overseeing marketing and communications, Robyn McKeown, Guy Maudant and Pete Nikolaison.

The festival programme includes the return of popular events such as Night Burner Parades in Greytown and Carterton; special breakfast mornings with the pilots; the Henley Lake Challenge, visits to primary schools and the family focused Trust House Night Glow, during which tethered balloons glow like light-bulbs and brighten the night sky in a dazzling show choreographed to music.

Trust House chief executive Allan Pollard said the trust was proud of its long association with the festival.

"We have been associated as a major sponsor since the very first festival and, clearly, next year's additions will make it the best so far," he said.

Former Wairarapa Balloon Society chairman Bob Francis said the festival held a unique place on the events calendar with its appeal to a wide cross-section of the community and wonderful visual features.