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The eleven victims of the balloon tragedy. Clockwise from top left: Chrisjan Jordann and Alexis Still, Valerie Bennett, Denise Dellabarca, Desmond and Ann Dean, pilot Lance Hopping, Diana Cox, Howard Cox, Stephen Hopkirk and Belinda Harter - Source: ONE News -
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The mayor of Carterton is calling the community together this weekend as it recognises those who helped in the wake of a fatal hot-air balloon crash.
All 11 people on board the balloon died when it crashed near the town on Saturday January 7.
The incident has prompted urgent safety checks on more than 70 balloons around the country after the Transport Accident Investigation Commission found a number of safety checks had not been followed by its operators.
"The Carterton community was stunned by the tragedy, and many pitched in to assist in those days immediately after the crash," mayor Ron Mark said.
"But we are also conscious of the fact that, over that time, we had the support of a much wider community than just Carterton.
"This included those who dropped in flowers and home baking, the members of the emergency services and Victim Support who assisted those affected by the accident, the people who visited Carterton over the days after the crash, and all those who sent messages of support."
A civic service will be held this Sunday to mark the incident, and will be attended by the Governor-General, Sir Jerry Mateparae, and Lady Janine Mateparae, and the Police Commissioner Peter Marshall.
Members of local emergency services and representatives of some of the victims' families will also be attending.