By Dan Parker
Hot air balloons have returned to the skies of the Wairarapa for the first time since a crash killed eleven people last month.
They did so with the blessing of the families who lost their loved ones, and Masterton's mayor says the region is now ready to move on.
Wairarapa photographer Geoff Walker, who was photographing pilot Lance Hopping's balloon when it hit power lines, asked for a moment of silence for those who lost their lives before the balloons took off.
The accident, which killed eleven, rocked not just the ballooning community but much of the region.
Masterton Mayor Garry Daniell said the region had been “stunned by what happened”.
“It's been a real catastrophe but today I think we moved on,” he said. “We have certain recognised the victims and the families that have been bereaved.”
Today's event was organised by the Wellington M G Car Club and had been planned for more than a year.
It got the go ahead following a special blessing from the club’s Ross Armstrong.
“We actually work very closely with the mayors and the local authorities and people who were in touch with the victims' families to ensure that going ahead wasn't going to offend anybody,” said Mr Armstrong.
The balloons were followed by the vintage car club for four kilometres before they landed, the flight going smoothy.
Mr Walker said Mr Hopping was originally set to be flying today.
“It really significant that we have been able to fly and that we took a minutes silence for Lance and his crew,” he told the audience.
The event helped settle the nerves prior to the Balloons over Wairarapa festival next month.
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