Carterton balloon tragedy

More than 200 mourners have gathered this morning at St Mark's Church in Carterton to remember the 11 victims of the hot air balloon tragedy one year ago today.

Cannabis found in the system of the Carterton balloon crash pilot is a "significant safety concern'' but it is too early to say whether it caused the tragedy, the lead crash investigator says.

Eleven people have been killed after a hot air balloon crashed near Carterton this morning, in New zealand's worst aviation disaster since the 1979 Erebus crash.

All 11 people killed in the January 7 hot air ballooning crash in Carterton have now been formally identified.

The 21-year-old man killed in the hot-air balloon tragedy in Carterton has been remembered as a wise, patient young man who supported both the Springboks and the All Blacks in the Rugby World Cup.

The families affected by the hot air balloon tragedy in Carterton held their last meeting together yesterday, beginning a long process of healing alongside the wider community.

Civil Aviation Authority will investigate the company involved in Saturday's hot-air ballooning disaster under the Health and Safety Act to consider whether it had properly carried out its responsibilities to its employees and passengers.

The bodies of all 11 victims of Saturday's fatal Carterton hot air balloon crash have now been taken away from the scene.

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 pilot killed with his 10 passengers yesterday was due to have married this summer.

A young couple who died in yesterday's ballooning tragedy had been together for a year after spending time on a church mission to Africa.

A gust of wind, pilot error or mechanical failure could have been to blame for carrying an ill-fated balloon into power lines yesterday, sparking a catastrophic fire and cutting power to 3800 homes.

A private balloon trip with his son is the "marvellous'' memory that stands out for the father of a pilot killed in a ballooning crash yesterday.

Hot air ballooning activities in Queenstown have not experienced any issues in the wake of a fatal ballooning accident in the Wairarapa, where 11 people died on Saturday.

Police will today start to interview first responders to the scene of the hot-air balloon tragedy in Carterton as they continue the investigation into the disaster.

The shock of Saturday's fiery balloon crash is still sinking in as the family of a retired Masterton couple await the return of their remains.