Wairarapa’s locally owned community newspaper
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 2019
INSIDE: Anzac Day ser vices P27-31
Farewell Claire P19
Busby the Queen’s Guard
ADVERTORIAL
to make his New Zealand debut at the Wairarapa Balloon Festival The Wairarapa Balloon Festival is always a magical experience and this years’ event, from Thursday 18th to Monday 22nd of April, will be no exception. This year it welcomes a special visitor from the UK - Busby the Queen’s Guard - as the special shape hot air balloon over the Easter weekend festival. Standing at 95 f t (29 metres), Busby is a based on the Queen’s Guards at Buck ingham Palace, and was manufac tured in 2017 by Cameron Balloons in Bristol, England. Busby is a relative newcomer to the balloon circuit, his maiden flight tak ing place at the Taiwan International Balloon Fiesta in 2017. Since then Busby has travelled across America, Europe and Asia, and will visit New Zealand for the first time to take flight at the Wairarapa Balloon Festival. When Busby takes to the sk ies, it is under the guidance of UKbased pilot Paul Burrows who has been flying hot air balloons since
he was 17 - the youngest pilot in Europe when he completed his qualifications. O ver 27 years, Paul has piloted passenger flights all over the world, flying some of the best k nown shapes in the world. He was the first British pilot to fly in Vietnam. Paul sits on the flying committee for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Europe’s largest annual balloon event, which attrac ts more than 500,000 people over the course of four days in August. Another unusual visitor set to make an appearance at the festival is a giant floating house, owned by M ike Pero Real Estate and operated by Auck land balloonist couple Di and Dar yl McKee. The upcoming Wairarapa Balloon Festival marks 20 years of the popular annual show brightening the region’s sk ies over Easter. This year ’s programme features a range of free events including the chance to see the pilots take off for early morning flights
throughout the Wairarapa (weather permitting), the Burner Parade through Car ter ton and Greytown, and a meet-the -pilots session at Te K airanga Vineyard following the Meander over Mar tinborough flight. Also on the agenda is the popular Trust House Night Glow at Solway Showgrounds on Saturday 20th April, where tethered balloons will light up to music. For those who would like to tr y ballooning themselves, visitors to this year ’s show will have the chance to take a scenic balloon flight with one of the countr y ’s top commercial balloon operators, Ballooning Canterbur y. • For more information and to book Night Show tickets or balloon flights online, see w w w.nzballoons.co.nz, and follow the Festival on Facebook at WairarapaBalloonFestival for updates.
2 Wairarapa Midweek
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
“Pop-Up Events” FREE EVENT Stay tuned to the Wairarapa Balloon Facebook page for “Pop-Up” Events sponsored by Resene and Burger King. There will be a couple of “Pop-Up” events during the Festival ... balloon ˛ ash-mobbing with prizes and giveaways for people who turn up! ... more details on the Facebook Page, don’t forget to like and follow us !!!
THURSDAY 18 APRIL “More FM First Flight” from 6:30am @ QEII Park Oval FREE EVENT More FM’s “First Flight” will kick o˜ the 20th anniversary with a spectacular skyhigh event. All the balloons will take to the sky together right on sunrise for a Mass Ascension - an incredible and colourful sight, from the Cricket Oval at Queen Elizabeth Park in Masterton. For the pilots, it marks the start of their ÿ ve day competition. Keep an eye out for amazing ˛ ying skills!
THURSDAY 18 APRIL “Tranzit Burner Parades” in Greytown (from 5:30pm) & Carterton (from 6:30pm) FREE EVENT Balloon Pilots and Crew put on a ÿ ery display for the Tranzit Burner Parade through Greytown’s main street before driving North to light up Carterton’s High Street. Line up along Carterton’s High Street to welcome the Tranzit Burner Parade ... Balloon Pilots and Crew put on a ÿ ery display lighting up the centre of Carterton, after driving through Greytown..
FRIDAY 19 APRIL “Carterton’s Mass Ascension” from 6:30am at Carrington Park, Carterton FREE EVENT Good Friday will see Carrington Park host the Mass Ascension, on the second day of this year’s Wairarapa Balloon Festival. Come down to Carrington Park to be part of this colourful spectacle as hot air balloons take to the clear Wairarapa Skies ... day two of competition for our pilots!
SATURDAY 20 APRIL “Resene’s Park to Paddock” from 6:30am at Soldiers Memorial Park, Kuratiwhiti Street, Greytown FREE EVENT Balloons lift o˜ as dawn breaks on the ‘Resene Park to Paddock’ Challenge in Greytown. The Balloon Meister will deliver the competition challenge for the morning and the pilots will showcase their skills. Another great venue to watch as the balloons take ˛ ight.
SATURDAY 20 APRIL “Trust House Night Glow” gates open 3:00pm at Solway Showgrounds TICKETS ON SALE THROUGH EVENTFINDA
The Trust House Night Glow is a magical evening for the whole family. Be WOWED by tethered hot air balloons lighting up the night sky in a dazzling display, set to choreographed music. Leading up to the unique Night Glow there is plenty to entertain, with roving Stilt Walkers, Costume Characters, Camp Quality Kids Zone and live music by the popular band The Shenanigans who will have everyone up dancing! Bring the whole family and enjoy the show. Pack a picnic, or purchase some delicious street food from one of the many food vendors. This is not a dog-friendly event, the balloons may scare your dog - please leave your fur-babies at home. TICKET PRICES: Buy Online to purchase discounted tickets: Adults $10 Children (school age) $5 Pre-schoolers (under 5yrs) Free Family Pass $25 (2 Adults & 2 Children) Gate Sales: Adults $15 Children $5 Pre-schoolers Free Family Pass $30 PARKING: Free on-site parking via Judds Road or Fleet Street - our fabulous experienced Rotary Volunteers will ensure everyone can park easily, please follow their directions. There will be tra˝ c management in place for leaving the venue. BAD WEATHER BACK UP/POSTPONEMENT DAY: SUNDAY 21 APRIL
SUNDAY 21 APRIL “Te Kairanga’s Meander Over Martinborough”
MONDAY 22 APRIL “Burger King’s Farewell Flight” from 6:30am at Wairarapa College playing ÿ elds (NO onsite parking)
from 6:30am FREE EVENT Gather around the Martinborough square, follow the balloons that will be taking o˜ from various locations around Martinborough on Easter Sunday for Te Kairanga’s Meander Over Martinborough! Watch the Pilot’s skill in dropping markers on special targets... Then head over to the Te Kairanga Vineyard Farmer’s Market On Martin’s Road. The pilots and crew will be there for brekky too!
FREE EVENT Join us at Burger King’s Farewell Flight as the balloons take to the sky on the ÿ nal day of this year’s Wairarapa Balloon Festival. This is the last opportunity to see all the balloons take ˛ ight! Pilots will collect their ÿ nal competition points by dropping markers at various locations... Who do you think will win?
Proud to support
BALLO NS OVER WAIRARAPA
TRUST HOUSE
LTD
trusthouse.co.nz
C a fé Solway & GOLF
DRIVING
COMMERCIAL STRENGTH
RANGE
E10
PORIRUA
for
Wednesday, April 17, 2019 Wairarapa Midweek
MIKE PERO FLYING HOUSE (ZK-LBT)
Daryl McKee Auckland, New Zealand
Daryl has been flying for almost 27 years in NZ, Fiji, Canada and the USA. He attained third place at Albuquerque New Mexico, as well as being in the top 20 five times, won at Hamilton NZ and another third place at China, California.
MEET THE
BALLOONS
and THEIR
pilots
BUSBY THE QUEEN’S GUARD (G-POMP)
Paul Burrows – Bristol, Britain
Paul is Director and chief pilot of Lighter Than Air Ltd, a company specialising in aerial advertising and shaped balloon management. When not flying commercially Paul can be seen at the burners of his charity balloon for the Teenage Cancer Trust in the UK.
WILDFIRE (ZK-PNG)
SNAKESKIN (ZK-PJK)
John Snodgrass – Cambridge, New Zealand
Peter King - Carterton, New Zealand
When not flying in festivals, Peter usually launches from his own backyard and specialises in high altitude flight. Peter is flying his new Boland Balloon which was manufactured in the Wairarapa by Brian Boland and helpers.
John started his love affair with ballooning in 2000, crewing at Balloons over Waikato, and finally bought his own in 2012. His partner Clare enjoys the sport as well and the couple are looking forward to being back again. Photo: Mark Thompson
BITTERSWEET (N8295)
Ross Sale – Auckland, New Zealand
Ross got the ‘air bug’ when he was young, starting with parachute jumps. When living in the USA he took up hang gliding, then sailing. Balloons were the answer and Ross gained a pilot’s license in the USA in the 1980s.
BLUE PRINT (ZK-SEL)
Jeremy Tomkinson Hamilton, New Zealand
POPPIES (ZK-PPI)
Jeremy spent his first 30 years in the UK. His love of ballooning started when he was invited to a fiesta in the UK. A few years later he bought his first balloon and then had to learn to fly it. Twenty years later he is still passionate.
LOLLIPOP (ZK-LOP)
Gail Dryland - Hamilton, New Zealand
Gail attended Balloons Over Waikato for five years, and the Wairarapa Festival as crew. She has been flying for ten years, attending Albuquerque and Mildura, Australia. Lollipop is a ‘new’ second-hand envelope from Boland Balloons in the USA.
FUSION 2 (ZK-FTC)
Matt Anderson – Alaska, America
Matt returns to New Zealand after a 16 year absence to fly Poppies and reunite with old friends. After building and flown his own balloon in Fairbanks, Alaska, Matt loves the open space he found in New Zealand.
SWAN2 (ZK-FAQ)
Mark Wilton – Carterton, New Zealand
When not ballooning, or assisting on the Festival committee, Mark can be found rocking and rolling on many a Wairarapa dance floor!
RE/MAX (ZK-WON)
Chris Bransgrove – Hamilton, New Zealand
Chris has been flying hot air balloons, and has flown in most New Zealand balloon events. He has flown in the USA and Fiji.” Hot air ballooning is a great sport, and has enabled me to create life-long friends.”
ABEL TASMAN (ZK-FAA)
John Clifton – Nelson, New Zealand
John is delighted to be back in the Wairarapa skies flying the Abel Tasman balloon in our beautiful region for the first time.
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OH LAR LAR (ZK-LAR)
Scott Curson – Wellington, New Zealand
Scott is a self-confessed adrenalin junkie with kite surfing amongst his list of adventure hobbies. Scott is another pilot who has spent time involved in international balloon festivals in UK, Metz, and Chateau DeOux in France, as well as Mildura in Australia in 2004. Photo: Geoff Walker FLAGSHIP (ZK-FAG)
Dan King – Carterton, New Zealand
Like his father Peter, Dan is an accomplished balloonist and loves nothing more than taking to the beautiful Wairarapa skies whenever he can - not as often as he would like with a cute little toddler keeping him and his wife busy. Photo: Geoff Walker
MOGUL (ZK-FBA)
Howard Watson – Wellington, New Zealand
Howard has been flying since 1996 and has attended balloon festivals in Wairarapa, Hamilton, Levin, Blenheim, Hastings, Methvin and Oamaru. Ballooning is a Watson family sport with Sandra, Simon and Emma helping as crew. Photo: Geoff Walker
JELLYBEAN (ZK-FAI)
Craig Scott - Masterton, New Zealand
Another local balloonist, Craig is supported on the ground by his lovely wife and daughters. Crew training starts early with the Scott family, with recently born grandson accompanying mum to morning ascensions!
BALLOONING CANTERBURY (ZK-OAK)
Nicholas Oakley, New Zealand
Nicholas has been flying in balloons since he was four years old. He had his first solo flight at 12 and won his first Balloon Fiesta at 14. At 22 he gained his Commercial Hot Air Balloon License and started flying for the family business.
AVAILABLE IN SUPERMARKETS NOW
64 Wairarapa Midweek
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
Proudly supporting the
2019 Wairarapa Balloon Festival
06 370 6300 - 8am to 5pm 161 Queen Street PO Box 444, Masterton 5840 WWW.MSTN.GOVT.NZ
06 379 4030 - 8:30am – 4:30pm 28 Holloway Street PO Box 9, Carterton 5743 WWW.CDC.GOVT.NZ