Te Puke Primary School students start day with balloon ride
7 Apr, 2021 07:52 PM
4 minutes to read
Kayne Stempher, Ronan Leask and Manny Rolleston enjoying the balloon ride.
Stuart Whitaker is editor of the Te Puke Timesstuart.whitaker@nzme.co.nz
Hot-air balloon flying looks best against a blue sky and that s exactly what Te Puke Primary School got last Thursday.
The school had an exciting visit from Kiwi hot-air balloon pilot and entrepreneur Andrew Parker.
He has launched a Flying High Project and Te Puke Primary is one of 32 schools throughout New Zealand to be chosen for a visit.
Thirty students and some staff members got the chance to rise up from the school playing field in the tethered balloon.
Thursday, 11 March 2021, 6:14 am
A
Kiwi hot air balloon pilot entrepreneur has launched his
‘Flying High’ project in spectacular style this week,
marking the start of a New Zealand-wide tour promoting the
importance of education, innovation and sustainability to
Year 5-11 students at low decile and rural
schools.
Andrew Parker (37) took to the skies at
Maromaku and Oturu Schools in Northland, providing rides to
120 children as part of an interactive education programme.
His next stop today is Rawene Primary in the
Hokianga.
‘Flying High’ is the brainchild of
Andrew Parker (37), former owner of the Hamilton-based Kiwi
Balloon Company and the director and visionary behind the
“So we had to come up with a different way to skin the cat so to speak, with more and more people trying to raise money for charities.” The event will allow people to run or walk the Hamilton’s airport runway, which up and back is around five kilometres. It will be held on March 14, 2021, starting at 7.15am. “We have a window. The first flight out on the Sunday is at 7.10am and the first one in is 10.10am.” Therefore, participants have an hour to complete the race, or they will get picked up by a support vehicle.
Tom Lee/Stuff