Wind halts kiwi balloon flight

Press, 11 September 1989, Page 8

Wind halts kiwi balloon flight

By

TONY VERDON,

in London

Strong winds wrecked a chance for Dame Kiri Te Kanawa to promote New Zealand’s 1990 commemorations in Britain at the week-end. She was to have taken a flight in the United King-dom-New Zealand 1990 Committee’s kiwi-shaped balloon, from the Leatherhead Golf Club, in Surrey. For the first time since the 107,000 cubic foot balloon was first launched, the weather was too rough for it to be even inflated, let alone fly. A disappointed Dame Kiri said later she was still keen to take a flight in the balloon, which is

being used to promote 1990 events in Britain. Dame Kiri, who is president of the United Kingdom-New Zealand 1990 Committee, was to have taken off in the balloon from the golf course, near her British home. The balloon can fly only in low winds, and on Saturday evening there were 15 knot winds, with gusts of 22 to 23 knots blowing across the Leatherhead golf course. The ‘photo call* had been arranged to attract publicity for events being held in Britain over the next year, as part of the 1990 commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi.

Although asking questions about the stability in the air of the 33-metre-high kiwi balloon, which has a long head and beak, Dame Kiri said she still hoped to take a flight. Her daughter, Toni, was also keen to fly in the balloon. Dame Kiri said her first hot air balloon flight had been in calm conditions in France, in July. She had gone for a flight with her husband, Mr Desmond Park, and the British actor, Jeremy Irons and his wife, and had enjoyed the experience. The kiwi balloon will be inflated and . tethered above a family picnic being organised as part bf the 1990 commemorations

at Windsor, near London, on Sunday.