One year since tragedy 'we all remember'

A memorial service is being held today to mark the first anniversary of the Wairarapa balloon tragedy.

Eleven people died when a hot air balloon hit power lines, caught fire and crashed to the ground during a scenic flight near Carterton on January 7, 2012.

PUBLIC SERVICE TODAY
A private memorial was held in Carterton on Saturday and a public service is being held in the town on Monday at 10am.

St Marks vicar Jenny Chalmers will lead it and Carterton mayor Ron Mark will speak.
Senior members of police will attend.

PILOT HAD DRUGS IN BODY
An interim Transport Accident Investigation Commission report into the crash, released in May, said pilot Lance Hopping, 53, had cannabis in his system.

The full report is due to be released mid-year.

THE PASSENGERS
The 10 passengers killed in the crash were: Howard Cox, 71, Diana Cox, 63, Desmond Dean, 70, Ann Dean, 65, Denise Dellabarca, 58, Johannes Jordaan, 21, Alexis Still, 19, Stephen Hopkirk, 50, Valerie Bennett, 70, and Belinda Harter, 49.