Denise Dellabarca had been meaning to take a balloon trip for a while, but her dream turned to tragedy when she died in Saturday's fiery crash.
The 58-year-old legal secretary had been on the trip with her Masterton cousin Valerie Bennett, who was gifted the trip by her son for her 70th birthday.
A close colleague of Mrs Dellabarca has told of how the balloon trip was "one of the things she had on her list to do for a while''.
Ross Johnston, a partner at Kensington Swan who worked on the same team as Mrs Dellabarca, today described her as a loyal, conscientious and private person.
"She was a great person and a wonderful work colleague. We worked together for nearly 25 years and all of us are going to miss her very much,'' he said.
"She was a very loyal person and very conscientious. She was a great team player, a great team member.''
Mr Johnston said colleagues were shocked by the news.
"It's just such a surprise,'' he said.
"We all respected her very much and we will miss her.''
Mrs Dellabarca's sister-in-law, Virginia Dellabarca, yesterday described her as "a lovely person'' and a caring sister-in-law.
Her aunt, who did not wish to be named, said her niece loved the outdoors and arts and crafts.
"She did her own dressmaking, all her own sewing and that. She was pretty clever.''
Mrs Dellabarca had moved from the Wellington suburb of Island Bay to Paraparaumu to look after her sick mother, who died a couple of years ago.
She had been a very keen horse rider, but had to give up a few years ago after she suffered an injury from a fall.
